Five injured in I-15 hit-and-run crash near Jean, Nevada
Five people were injured and one was airlifted after a hit-and-run driver struck Clark County Fire Department vehicles on southbound Interstate 15 near Jean, Nevada, early Friday. The suspect fled on foot into the desert after a secondary crash at mile marker 7, and NHP, Las Vegas Metro, and CHP launched a drone-and-helicopter search.
The crash disrupted one of the busiest interstate corridors linking Las Vegas and Southern California, forcing hours-long closures and a diesel cleanup after emergency crews themselves became victims of a second collision.
Key Takeaways
- Five people were hurt in a secondary hit-and-run at southbound I-15 mile marker 7 near Jean; one patient was airlifted by Life Flight.
- An unidentified driver struck a Clark County Fire Department ambulance, fire truck, and a Chevrolet Malibu, then ran into the desert.
- NHP, LVMPD, and CHP searched with drones and helicopters; the suspect remained at large as of Friday morning.
- Southbound Interstate 15 reopened partially by about 7:50 a.m.; lane 3 stayed closed for diesel spill cleanup.
- No Clark County Fire Department personnel on scene were injured, officials confirmed.
What happened on Interstate 15 near Jean early Friday?
Nevada Highway Patrol responded to an initial three-car collision at 12:16 a.m. on southbound I-15 near mile marker 7, just north of the California-Nevada state line south of Las Vegas, according to FOX5 Vegas.
While troopers and fire crews secured that scene, a second collision occurred at 12:36 a.m. An unidentified vehicle slammed into a Clark County Fire Department ambulance, a fire truck, and a Chevrolet Malibu parked from the first crash.
The striking driver immediately fled on foot into the surrounding desert. Despite an intensive air and ground search, authorities had not located the suspect by mid-morning Friday.
Who was injured in the hit-and-run crash?
Five people were injured in the secondary collision and transported to area hospitals, FOX5 and KSNV reported.
One patient was airlifted by Life Flight helicopter because of the severity of their injuries. Four others were taken by ground ambulances.
Officials confirmed that all Clark County Fire Department personnel working the scene were not injured in the impact.
Is the hit-and-run driver still at large?
Yes. Trooper Shawn Haggstrom told KSNV that the driver allegedly ran into the desert and authorities have been unable to locate him.
NHP, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol coordinated the search, utilizing drones and helicopters in addition to ground teams.
The use of aerial and unmanned search tools on a major interstate corridor reflects how law enforcement increasingly deploys technology during high-stakes manhunts — a trend we track in our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
How is southbound Interstate 15 traffic affected?
Southbound I-15 closed for multiple hours while cleanup crews worked to clear a large diesel spill leaking from the damaged Clark County fire truck.
All southbound traffic was diverted off the highway at the Jean exit off-ramp, Exit 12. Motorists traveling between Las Vegas and Southern California were urged to avoid the area during the closure.
By about 7:50 a.m., Highway Patrol reopened travel lanes one and two, Haggstrom said. The number three lane remained closed for continued cleanup work.