LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A crash Saturday near Charleston Boulevard left one man dead and another facing multiple charges, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when a black Hyundai Sonata collided with a silver Kia Sedona at a stoplight. First responders transported two individuals from the Kia to University Medical Center (UMC) with injuries.
Authorities reported that the Sonata rear-ended the Sedona, accelerated forward, crashed into a curb, displaced a landscaping boulder, and finally struck a light pole before coming to a stop. Witnesses estimated the Sonata was traveling at approximately 50 mph at impact.
The driver of the Sonata, Harold Vance Allen, and passenger Benito Saragosa were both taken to UMC, where Saragosa later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigation revealed that Saragosa's mother, the registered owner of the Sonata, had parked the vehicle with the keys in the ignition while shopping at Walmart. Upon returning, she found her car at the crash site, unaware of any unauthorized use.
Allen, who claimed to have fallen asleep in another vehicle while at Walmart, stated that the gas pedal had “stuck” during the crash. However, a witness reported Allen had mentioned, “I was trying to beat the light,” before losing consciousness.
Allen is now facing charges of:
- Open murder with a deadly weapon
- Grand larceny of a motor vehicle
- First-degree kidnapping
- Robbery
The investigation remains ongoing.