Hit-and-run crashes seem prevalent in Nevada as just Wednesday, a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Las Vegas. Now, according to a study, Nevada has one of the highest rates of deadly hit-and-run crashes in the country.
More than one hit-and-run crash occurs every minute on U.S. roads, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. These crashes resulted in 2,049 deaths in 2016 -- the highest number on record and a 60 percent increase since 2009.
In Nevada, there were 32 hit-and-run crashes involving at least one fatality in 2016, the latest year with available data, according to AAA. That is the most since 2006.
Per capita, Nevada has the fourth largest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes in the country, AAA reports. From 2006 to 2016, there were 246 hit-and-run crashes involving at least one fatality on the state's roadways.
AAA researchers examined common characteristics of hit-and-run crashes and found that:
- An average of 682,000 hit-and-run crashes occurred each year since 2006.
- Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists.
- Hit-and-run deaths in the U.S. have increased an average of 7.2 percent each year since 2009.
- Per capita, New Mexico, Louisiana and Florida have the highest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes while New Hampshire, Maine and Minnesota have the lowest rates.
- AAA found that most victims of fatal hit-and-run crashes are pedestrians or bicyclists, and over the last 10 years, nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths were in hit-and-run crashes.
