North Las Vegas Crash Leaves 9 Dead, Including 4 Kids

NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV — A six-vehicle crash in North Las Vegas left nine people dead, including four children, multiple media outlets reported.

Authorities said they believe a speeding Dodge Challenger sedan traveling more than 100 mph ran a red light Saturday afternoon on North Commerce Street, at the intersection of West Cheyenne Avenue, police said at a news conference. The speed limit is reportedly 35 mph.

The vehicle collided with a Toyota Sienna and Ford Fusion, KVVU-TV reported. Three additional vehicles were also hit in the collision. The impact sent multiple vehicles into a vacant lot near the intersection, KLAS-TV reported.

Fifteen people in all were involved in the crash. Two people inside the Dodge Challenger died, as well as all seven people in the Toyota Sienna. One adult inside the Ford Fusion was also critically hurt. One person inside a Chevrolet Malibu was hurt, as were two adults inside a Mercedes SUV and two more inside a Hyundai SUV.

"We had an unprecedented loss of life that happened yesterday in our community," Mayor Jay Lee said. "We need to realize today that there's a lot of grieving taking place in North Las Vegas."

The children who died in the wreck were all inside the Toyota minivan. They were identified as 5-year-old Fernando Yeshua Mejia; 10-year-old Adrian Zacarias; 13-year-old Lluvia Daylenn Zacarias; and 15-year-old Bryan Axel Zacarias.

Gabriel Mejia-Barrera, 23; David Mejia-Barrera, 25; and Jose Zacarias-Caldera, 35, were in the same minivan and also died.

The driver of the Dodge Challenger was identified as Gary Dean Robinson, 59, of North Las Vegas. The name of the passenger in that vehicle wasn't immediately released.

All nine died of blunt force trauma from the crash, KVVU-TV reported, citing the Clark County Office of the Coroner and Medical Examiner.

“We have not seen a mass casualty traffic collision like this before,” said Alex Cuevas of the North Las Vegas Police Department.

Photos of the crash posted on social media showed mangled metal and debris strewn across a vacant lot. The collision sent a white sedan and red vehicle through a fence.

A GoFundMe account created Sunday by the children's mother, Erlinda Zacarias, raised about $108,000 as of Monday morning. About 2,500 people had donated.

The family's goal is to raise $150,000.

Erlinda Zacarias wrote in the post: "Out of those lives lost there are no words to describe my pain and suffering."

"Me and my husband are in so much pain, we are asking you for help with our heart in hands," she said.

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted Sunday it is helping with the investigation alongside police.

Nevada U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen tweeted her thoughts are with the families & loved ones of the people who died. She called it a "senseless and preventable tragedy."

“I urge all drivers to please slow down and be aware of their surroundings. We all have a responsibility to be safe and cautious on the roads," Rosen said.

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