Every state has intersections and roads that are inherently risky to drivers and increase the chance of accidents. In Nevada, large cities and tourist attractions contribute to congested roads, drunk drivers, and other hazards.
Below is a list of roads in the Las Vegas area that are dangerous for drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
U.S. Highway 93
U.S. Route 93 connects Las Vegas to the Great Basin National Park along the state’s eastern edge. It passes through Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson on its way to the Las Vegas Valley. Although improvements have made the road safer, it is still one of the state’s most dangerous highways.
In January 2023, two people died, and two others sustained life-threatening injuries in a head-on accident between two vehicles.
U.S. Highway 50
U.S. Route 50 stretches from Ocean City, Maryland, to West Sacramento, California, running across the center portion of Nevada. Life magazine named it The Loneliest Road in America in 1986 due to the surrounding desert valleys and mountain ranges.
An accident involving two passenger cars and a tractor-trailer caused one driver’s death in August 2022. A driver attempted to pass the tractor-trailer, veering into the path of an oncoming car. The passenger vehicles collided, sending both off the roadway and causing one of the cars to overturn.
The Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is the famous stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South, lined with casinos and hotels. It is a little over four miles long and is the state’s leading tourist destination.
On Christmas Day, 2022, a crash on Las Vegas Boulevard near Jean claimed the lives of two 22-year-olds. One died at the scene, while the other died after being transported to an area hospital.
Interstate 15
Interstate 15 is 181 miles long and connects Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It is one of the deadliest roads in the country. However, it’s not because of the road conditions. The drivers who travel on it make it a dangerous stretch of road. Many people exceed the 70-mile-per-hour speed limit while passing through the Mojave Desert on their way to or from Las Vegas.
Around 3:11 in the morning of October 18, a car struck a person walking in the far left southbound lane on I-15 at Flamingo Road. The impact forced the pedestrian into the central lanes, where a semi-truck and other vehicles crashed into them. The pedestrian died at the scene.
Red Rock Canyon Loop Road
The Red Rock Canyon loop passes through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA). Visitors can enjoy the scenic views while driving or riding their bikes along the 13-mile stretch.
The Nevada Department of Transportation recently released its plan to improve safety for those traveling along the SR-159 and SR-160 corridors encompassing the Red Rock Canyon loop. The plan addresses the need for additional safety features, as 35 people have died in traffic collisions along the path over the last five years. In addition, hundreds of cyclists travel in close proximity to motor vehicles on SR-159 as it curves around the canyon. The plan outlines the need for bike lanes with a buffer from cars, more speed and traffic control, widened streets, and raised medians.
Mt. Rose Highway
Mount Rose Highway is a twenty-five-mile road from Reno to Lake Tahoe. It is steep and features several dangerous curves as it wends its way to the summit of Mount Rose. The scenic route has views of Lake Tahoe, waterfalls, and lakes. It is also hazardous, especially during winter when snow and ice create slippery conditions.
Last January, a fatal two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle closed part of the highway near Galena Forest.
Most Dangerous Intersections in Nevada
Here are some of the most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard
Four major resort hotels – Tropicana Las Vegas, MGM Grand, New York-New York Hotel and Casino, and Excalibur Hotel and Casino sit at the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Blvd. Heavy traffic and out-of-town revelers make it the site of frequent collisions.
One such accident occurred last summer when a white Ford Expedition driver slowed down to avoid hitting a pedestrian crossing the eastbound lanes of Tropicana Ave. A driver in a Ford F-150 pickup truck rear-ended the Ford Expedition, causing it to strike the pedestrian. An ambulance took the pedestrian to the University Medical Center with critical injuries.
West Sahara Avenue and Arville Street
- Sahara Ave. and Arville St. is an intersection west of The Las Vegas Strip. Heavy traffic traveling from all directions is a danger to pedestrians. The intersection was the site of a fatal car-vs.-bicyclist accident in January 2023. A driver in a Nissan Versa traveling east on East Sahara Avenue ran a red light at the intersection of Commercial Center Drive at around 4 a.m. and fatally struck a bicyclist crossing the intersection. The driver, a 35-year-old woman, was arrested on charges of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death, and failure to observe a red light.
West Tropicana Avenue and South Decatur Boulevard
In May 2022, two cars crashed into each other near the intersection of West Tropicana Blvd. and South Decatur Blvd., located only one block from West Sahara and Arville Street. One woman was in critical condition and transported to the University Medical Center.
Paradise Road and East Tropicana Avenue
One person died in a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Paradise Rd. and E. Tropicana Ave. early one morning in May 2021. According to a statement by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a driver in a pickup truck went off the road and collided with a traffic signal pole. The driver sustained substantial injuries but survived, while their passenger died at an area hospital.
East Charleston Boulevard and South Lamb Boulevard
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, a fatal crash happened at the intersection of E. Charleston and S. Lamb Boulevard in September 2021. The police said a driver in a 2020 Toyota Corolla, heading south on Lamb Blvd., ran a red light and struck another Toyota Corolla headed west on Charleston that had entered the intersection on a yellow light. The two drivers and a passenger were rushed to a local hospital, where the driver who ran the red light died from his injuries.
Tropicana Avenue and Pecos Road
Tropicana and Pecos was the site of a fatal accident in September 2022, when a driver attempting to make a U-turn collided with a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was thrown from their bike and slammed into the back part of the car. The motorcyclist died after being taken to a hospital.
Get Help with Your Car Accident Case
At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we are committed to helping people injured due to carelessness or disregard for the safety of other drivers on Nevada’s dangerous roads and intersections. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our compassionate car accident attorneys. After a crash caused by another driver, at Sam & Ash Injury Law, we believe you deserve What’s Right.
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