Hit-and-run case
Police suspect a former Los Angeles Police Department deputy of a fatal hit-and-run near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign on New Year’s day.
first traffic fatality of 2026
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) arrested the driver of what Metro stated was its first traffic fatality of 2026 shortly after the deadly incident on January 1.
According to 8 News Now on Tuesday, the man arrested by the LVMPD has been identified as Edward Dias, 77, a former LAPD Deputy.
Californian Dias stands accused of hitting Kansas tourist Lynessa Perkins, 43, near the famous sign with his Cadillac XT5 before driving away. The mother of three later died in hospital.
Dias, who posted bond on bail of $100,000, faces a felony charge of “duty to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death or bodily harm.”
Tragic coming together
Dias is due in court this week and, if found guilty, faces prison time of two to 20 years for the death of Perkins, who like the ex-cop was just visiting Vegas.
8 News Now cited a witness who was visiting the iconic sign, located on a strip intersecting the north and southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard South, who saw Dias’ Cadillac hit Perkins. The Kansan was walking with her dog in a traffic lane when the Cadillac struck.
An LVMPD arrest report stated the Cadillac hit Perkins with its front left, causing her to be thrown onto the roadway. Calls to Metro reported a woman lying unconscious on the road. The victim was taken to UMC hospital where she later died from her injuries.
tracked him down to a room in Orleans Hotel and Casino
While chief suspect Dias’s name only surfaced this week, the LVMPD reportedly quickly identified the ex-LAPD officer as the owner of the Cadillac and tracked him down to a room in Orleans Hotel and Casino where he was arrested.
Metro detectives found the Cadillac in the casino-resort’s parking lot with telltale damage to its front left, according to the arrest report.
Conflicting tales
According to reports, the ex-LAPD officer’s statement to arresting officers seems at odds with the facts. Dias told the LVMPD he “realized he had hit something but didn’t know what it was.”
The ex-cop stated he did pull over but left the scene “because his vehicle could not make left turns.”
Metro, however, cited video evidence of Dias’ car “making a left-hand U-turn after the collision.” Rather than calling the police to report the accident, Dias reportedly called his insurance firm.
The victim’s dog was found the day after the accident, “trembling outside an apartment complex near the Strip.”
