The family of a high school student killed by a drunk driver one year ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, the vehicle’s owner, the Clark County School District and the city of Las Vegas.
The lawsuit was filed Saturday by slain Arbor View High School senior McKenzie Scott’s mother Tiffany Reynolds, father Jeffrey Todd Scott and brother Kasen Scott.
Scott, 18, was crossing North Buffalo Drive near Arbor View just after 11 a.m. on May 2, 2025, when she was struck by a car driven by 37-year-old Keenan Jackson. Scott died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Police said Jackson’s blood alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit. Jackson pleaded guilty to DUI resulting in death in October and was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison in November.
Scott was set to participate in a ceremony for graduating seniors at Arbor View on May 2, 2025, when she went to her car to retrieve her graduation cap and gown, according to the lawsuit. Scott’s car was parked along North Buffalo Drive because the school had instructed students to park their vehicles along the road due to insufficient on-campus parking, the complaint claimed.
It was when Scott went to access her car by entering a marked crosswalk along North Buffalo Drive that Jackson struck her, the lawsuit claimed.
“Defendant Keenan Edward Jackson breached his duty of care by failing to yield the right of way to McKenzie Anne Scott as she crossed North Buffalo Drive in a marked crosswalk,” the lawsuit alleged. “Defendant Keenan Edward Jackson further breached his duty by operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
The lawsuit named Krystal Nicole Harris as the registered owner of the vehicle that Jackson drove into Scott and claimed that Harris negligently entrusted her vehicle with Jackson.
The complaint also alleged the city of Las Vegas and the school district were aware of multiple complaints about the dangerous nature of the crosswalk where Jackson struck Scott, but did not take adequate measures to protect its pedestrians.
Since Scott’s death, the crosswalk has been repainted, has had overhead flashing lights installed and has had a paid guard assigned to the site.
City and school district officials did not immediately return requests for comment.
The lawsuit requested a jury trial and upward of $135,000 in damages.
Contact Spencer Levering at slevering@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253.
