LATEST: Calvin Hilson, the victim of a deadly car crash last Wednesday in North Las Vegas, is being remembered for the outsized impact he had on the community.
After growing up in Michigan in "the school of hard knocks," according to friends, Hilson moved to Clark County and became a North Las Vegas police officer.
He found his calling as a counselor of troubled youth, working with urban outreach programs and charitable organizations.
"Although we've lost him physically, the work that he's done and the lives that he's changed will have implications for generations to come," said Jimmy Monaghan, Hilson's supervisor at Canyon Ridge Christian Church.
Friends say without hesitation that if Hilson were here, he would forgive John Paul Bryant, the 19-year-old who caused the crash that killed Hilson.
Bryant is the kind of person Hilson would seek out to help, according to Kevin Odor, the church's senior pastor.
Hilson leaves behind a wife and six children.
They've started a GoFundMe for support, which has already raised more than $26,000.
UPDATE: 19-year-old John Paul Bryant was taken into custody due to this crash. He booked at the Las Vegas City Jail for felony duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death, felony reckless driving involving death, failure to render aid at the scene of an accident, and driving without a valid license.
The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Calvin Hilson of Las Vegas. His cause of death is listed as blunt force head trauma.
ORIGINAL STORY
A man is dead and six other people are injured in chain-reaction car crash in North Las Vegas Wednesday evening.
The crash occurred around 6 p.m. near Clayton Street and Alexander Road. Police said a man driving a gray Jeep was speeding, heading west along Alexander Road and went through the intersection with Clayton, T-boning a white Toyota Camry and killing the driver in that car.
"This is super unfortunate," said North Las Vegas Police Officer Aaron Patty. "The person who died in this crash was not at fault. Somebody who is a family member of this person is going to mourn the loss of a loved one tonight."
The force of the crash also sent the Camry into a Chevy Tahoe, injuring a family of five. None of their injuries are life-threatening.
Police said the driver of the Jeep got out of the vehicle and initially took off before he was arrested.
A female passenger in the Jeep was also injured and taken to the hospital.
