A Las Vegas man who was killed in a double hit-and-run on Thursday was crawling backward in the street, making him difficult to see, according to police.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Tomas Espino in connection with the July 7 crash, which happened near West Flamingo Road and South El Capitan Way. Police said Espino, 35, was driving a BMW X4 around 1:20 a.m. when he struck 63-year-old Rodolfo Monzonlopez.
According to Espino’s arrest report, Monzonlopez was “crab walking” in a crosswalk at the intersection when he was struck. Espino did not stop after hitting Monzonlopez, and seconds later, another vehicle struck the victim.
Metro did not identify the other vehicle or its driver in the report.
Police previously said Monzonlopez did not have the proper signal to cross. He died at University Medical Center shortly after the crash, according to the report.
Espino, who is being held on $75,000 bail, faces one count of failure to stop at the scene of a crash.
Police said they identified the BMW Espino was driving after finding parts, including a tire trim piece, at the scene that matched the vehicle. They said detectives later found the suspect’s vehicle parked in the driveway of a house in the nearby neighborhood.
According to police, the vehicle’s front was damaged, with missing parts of the bumper and other pieces from above the driver’s front tire.
Officers knocked on the front door of the home and spoke with Daily Avila De Espino, who originally said the BMW was hers, according to police. Tomas Espino also exited the house and spoke with officers, telling them that he was the only person who drove the BMW, the arrest report said.
Thomas Espiono told police thought he hit a box in the roadway, and that he saw his vehicle was damaged but did not immediately stop to look at it, according to the report.
Police said that there was no apparent biological matter found on the vehicle.
“The roadway evidence and damage profile on the BMW support the claim that Mr. Monzonlopez was crawling across the roadway, which would have created a low profile and lowered his visibility,” the report said. “A reasonable person would likely not have perceived Mr. Monzonlopez as a person in the roadway. … However, Mr. Espino did not inspect the damage to his vehicle until after he arrived home.”
Espino is due in court in a week.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
