Deadly Hit-and-Run Near Las Vegas Sign: Retired LA Deputy Accused

• Retired LASD deputy accused in fatal Las Vegas New Year’s hit-and-run
• Witness says Cadillac struck pedestrian near Welcome sign, then fled
• Police tracked suspect to Orleans; victim’s dog later found trembling

The suspect in a fatal hit-and-run near the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign on New Year’s Day is a retired Los Angeles County law enforcement officer, according to an arrest report recently filed in court.

Edward Dias, 77, of Pomona, Calif., is a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. He is accused of hitting and killing mother-of-three Lynessa Perkins, 43, a Kansas tourist, before driving away.

A witness was looking at the famous sign when they saw a Cadillac XT5 strike Perkins, who was walking in a traffic lane at about 1 am on January 1.

The sign sits on a median between the northbound and southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard South, and while there is a paved pedestrian walkway leading up to it, pedestrians routinely cross multiple lanes to reach the spot because the nearest legal crossings aren’t always obvious.

Fleeing the Scene

Shortly after the collision, the vehicle, which had California license plates, pulled into a private drive. When the witness approached the car while recording on their cellphone, the driver fled, according to court filings.

Las Vegas Metro Police (LVMPD) and medical personnel responded to calls about a woman who had been hit in a collision and appeared to be unconscious, according to the arrest report. Perkins was taken to the UMC Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police quickly identified Dias as the owner of the Cadillac. After contacting nearby hotels, they determined he was staying at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Investigators found the vehicle in the parking lot and noted minor damage to its front bumper and side-view mirror. Dias was arrested in his room at the Orleans, according to the report.

Dias’ Denial

Dias told police he realized he had hit something, but he claimed he didn’t know what it was. He said he pulled over but left the scene because his vehicle could not make left turns.

However, surveillance video shows the Cadillac making a left-hand U-turn after the collision, police said. Instead of notifying the police, he had called his insurance company, the report added.

Dias is due in court on January 6, where he faces a felony charge of failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death or bodily harm. If convicted, he could face between two and 20 years in prison.