by 
An email obtained by News 3 shows an employee with the City of Las Vegas notified the Clark County School District traffic email about a concerning crosswalk by a school eight months before a student was hit and killed.
McKenzie Scott, 18, was using the Buffalo Drive crosswalk outside Arbor View High School when a suspected drunk driver hit her on the road on May 2. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police identified the driver as 37-year-old Keenan Jackson .
The mother of Scott, Tiffany Reynolds, believes her daughter was crossing the street to access her car parked in a nearby neighborhood to get her cap and gown for a senior event on campus that day.
Jackson pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing on June 9 after a grand jury indicted him.
MORE ON NEWS 3 | Grand jury indicts man accused of DUI in crash that killed Arbor View student
Parents of Arbor View High School students told News 3 after the deadly crash that they considered the crosswalk dangerous before the deadly crash.
Via a public records request, News 3 asked for emails sent to the CCSD traffic email between August 18, 2021, and May 2, 2025, to know if the district was notified about concerns. That request generated about 10 emails over that time, with one dated September 3, 202,4, from Nick Nishihama with the City of Las Vegas’ Department of Public Works.
He messaged the traffic unit regarding complaints received about speeding in front of the school, and that they were “particularly concerned” about the Buffalo Drive crosswalk.
“Could you please have your team follow up on complaints we’ve received about speeding in front of Arbor View HS? We are particularly concerned about the mid-block crosswalk on Buffalo Drive, north of Whispering Sands Drive, directly in front of the school, where there have been reports of near misses involving pedestrians. Please let me know if you need anything else to help expedite this request.”
It remains unknown if an employee with the district responded directly to that specific email from Nishihama about the Buffalo crosswalk.
In emails obtained from the City of Las Vegas, it shows Nishihama received an automated response that his “traffic concern has been logged, is of utmost importance to CCSDPD and it will be addressed as soon as possible.”
In previous emails obtained by News 3 via a records request to CCSD, Nishihama corresponded with a CCSDPD on September 4, the day after he sent his initial email. The CCSDPD officer contacted Nishihama about a crosswalk concern on Whispering Sands Drive by Arbor View High School, after meeting at a Safe Routes kickoff event the previous week.
In the email response from Nishihama, he wrote, “Just yesterday I called and sent in a request for traffic enforcement for this school. We have received complaints about speeding on Buffalo and students having near misses at the crossing in front of the school.”
The following emails between them pertained only to Whispering Sands Drive and did not address the crosswalk at Buffalo Drive.
News 3 emailed CCSD and asked if the district followed up with the City of Las Vegas email from September 3 and questioned why the district didn’t work with the city sooner if there were concerns about the crosswalk, but did not receive a direct response to that query.
A Mother’s Concern
Another message sent to the traffic email from Ashley Brewer on April 25 raised concerns about the crosswalk after her son was hit by a car while riding his bicycle to school and survived.
“He was transported to trauma,” Brewer said. “He had emergency surgery on his leg. He's still learning how to walk.”
An officer wrote in an incident report obtained by News 3 that the rising Arbor View High School sophomore was at fault because “a pedestrian was crossing the street in the crosswalk about halfway, so he thought he had the right of way still to cross” when the car collided with him.
After the incident, Brewer volunteered to help students cross the street but soon stopped after CCSDPD notified her that “the school office was being flooded with complaints” and for her own safety, she should not return. Brewer questioned if she could petition for a crossing guard or flashing lights for the crosswalk.
She received an automated response from CCSD that her “traffic concern has been logged, is of utmost importance to CCSDPD, and it will be addressed as soon as possible.”
“I received a confirmation email,” Brewer said. “I never received a follow-up email from anybody from CCSD for that traffic report.”
Safety Enhancements Coming
Following Scott’s death, the City of Las Vegas conducted a traffic study and announced on June 18 that there would be safety improvements to the crosswalk.
The study found that all traffic safety devices in Buffalo, including crosswalks, signage, and school zone flashers, were functioning properly and were suitable for the traffic and pedestrian patterns on the roadway.
Despite the findings, the city said it will be repainting the crosswalk on Buffalo this summer, as well as adding an overhead pedestrian-activated flasher and signage.
“We wish that safety enhancements could prevent tragedies on our roadways, but the difference-maker is that everyone in the community must be responsible and make good decisions while using the streets,” Mayor Shelley Berkley said. “My heart goes out to McKenzie’s family and friends and the entire Arbor View family for this senseless and tragic loss.”
CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert also stated, "Student and staff safety is our priority. We commend the city of Las Vegas for implementing these vital safety improvements," said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent. "We continue to support the students and staff of Arbor View High School, and McKenzie Scott's family and friends."
City officials also noted that roadway dividers were added as safety improvements to Whispering Sands Drive in 2024.
Roadway safety concerns can be reported online or by calling 702.229.6331.
No comments:
Post a Comment