UPDATE ON DEC. 27: Las Vegas police have released additional details about the fiery crash at Desert Inn Road and Durango Drive that claimed 4 lives on Thursday night.
According to a press release, a 2016 Mazda 6 driven by a 39-year-old man was driving at an excessive rate of speed when he failed to stay in his lane and hit the median. The Mazda then rear-ended a 2017 Dodge Journey with 5 occupants that was stopped in the left turn lane to Durango Drive. The force of the impact caused the Dodge and Mazda into the intersection where they encountered a 2005 Lexus RX330 and 2014 Ford Escape. The Dodge and Mazda then hit 2 other vehicles, a 2018 Ford 150 and 2011 Toyota Prius, on the east side of the intersection.
The Dodge, Mazda and an Audi 3 caught fire. Several citizens immediately stopped and attempted to help the occupants of the burning vehicles, according to police.
Three occupants of the Dodge and the driver of the Mazda were pronounced dead at the scene. The citizens were able to pull 2 occupants from the Dodge and they were transported to UMC Trauma with critical injuries.
The occupants of the Dodge were 2 adult females, 2 female juveniles, and a 17-year-old male. The 2 women and 1 of the young females were killed.
The multiple deaths are the 106th, 107th, 108th and 109th traffic-related fatalities in Las Vegas for 2019. The Clark County coroner will release the names of the deceased after notifications have been made.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Two people are alive thanks to the heroic efforts of bystanders after a devastating, fiery crash in west Las Vegas that killed four others on Thursday night, according to police.
The seven-vehicle crash happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. near Desert Inn Road and Durango Drive.
Police say a car was speeding eastbound on Desert Inn towards Durango when it rear-ended a second vehicle, throwing both of the vehicles into the intersection.
The two vehicles then hit a third and all three burst into flames. In total, seven cars were involved in the crash at the intersection.
Four people died in the crash: the driver of the speeding car and three people in a car that was hit, police say.
Bystanders who witnessed the crash risked their lives to save two people from the wreckage, according to authorities.
"Instead of five victims in that vehicle there are three," said Captain Jason Letkiewicz with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
"Because some people were brave enough to move forward and pull those people out of that vehicle."
Police say one of the people who died in the crash was a minor. Two other people, one of whom was another minor, were transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.
Capt. Letkiewicz says he wishes people would be more cautious on the road, especially when it's raining.
"It's wet, it's cold -- you don't get good traction," he said. "Slow down. There's no place that you have to be so badly that you put your own life or someone else at risk."
"Four people are dead today and two others lives are changed and altered," he added.
"The day after Christmas. Just think about somebody maybe besides yourself."
This is a developing story, check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Read more Las Vegas breaking news for Dec, 26, 2019
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