LAS VEGAS -- A deadly crash took the lives of two Las Vegas valley residents early Thursday morning.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says the couple was getting off I-215 at Cheyenne Avenue, but somehow ended passing through the intersection and on to the on-ramp. The car was traveling to fast and hit a barrier wall. The 66-year-old driver and 72-year-old passenger both died.
This brings the number of traffic deaths in southern Nevada since New Year's Day to eight, and a new report shows just how much money accidents and injuries cost the state.
While the loss of life is immense, there is also a financial burden placed on Nevadans who having nothing to do with accidents. The report by the Advocates for Highway Safety shows that the total cost statewide for road fatalities and injuries averages, conservatively, at about $1.9 billion. That includes the cost of medical expenses, property damage, legal costs, infrastructure repair, employee payout losses, and lost productivity.
"How it effects you personally is you have Joe Blow down the street that gets onto a bad accident, insurance has to pay out, and premiums go up for everyone," said Alex Valencia with Titus Insurance.
The report aims at getting new laws implemented in Nevada, like a primary seat belt law and stricter DUI laws where offenders would be required to have a breathalyzer inside their car.
