Nevada State Highway Patrol Provides New Details on Fatal Wrong-Way Driver Crash in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The Nevada State Highway Patrol (NSHP) has recently released additional information regarding a tragic wrong-way driver collision that occurred on US 95, resulting in the untimely deaths of a 3-year-old boy and two adults. This devastating incident took place on Saturday, December 9th, at approximately 3:10 p.m. in the northwest Las Vegas Valley, specifically off US Durango Drive North.

According to the NSHP, the sequence of events unfolded when a Chrysler PT Cruiser, traveling in the wrong direction, collided head-on with a GMC Acadia and subsequently spun, striking a Kia Soul. The impact caused the PT Cruiser to overturn before coming to a rest on its side on the left shoulder of the road. Shockingly, the undercarriage of the PT Cruiser also struck two additional vehicles parked on the shoulder, exacerbating the scope of the tragedy.

The driver of the ill-fated PT Cruiser has been identified as Antonia Marie Upton, a 50-year-old resident of Bullhead City, Arizona, who tragically lost her life at the scene. Similarly, 63-year-old Sparks Karen Foote, the driver of the GMC Acadia, also succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the accident site.

Tragically, the youngest victim of this horrific incident has been identified as 3-year-old Jaya Brooks, who was a passenger in the Kia Soul. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, young Jaya ultimately succumbed to his injuries on December 11th, devastating his grieving family and the community at large.

This heart-wrenching event serves as the 69th accident reported by the NSHP – Southern Command in 2023, and regrettably, the death toll has now reached 86 lives lost in these tragic incidents. The NSHP continues to work tirelessly to enhance road safety measures and prevent such devastating accidents from occurring in the future.