LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Gruesome crime scenes. Weeping relatives. Tricky court proceedings. Lenient laws, and generous judges.
These are just a few of the things that members of the Clark County District Attorney's DUI team say they face on a daily basis.
WATCH | Local prosecutors discuss effects of DUI in our community
From grizzled veterans to cynical lawyers, jaded by the failures of the system, to the newest, youngest prosecutors, they are driven to fight one of the valley's most tragic crimes — because it's also one of the most preventable ones.
So far this year, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has logged 35 fatal drunk driving deaths — about half as many as last year. But behind the statistics are real people whose lives are being changed forever.
I sat down with District Attorney Steve Wolfson and members of his team at their downtown offices recently, to talk about their cases, their frustrations and the effect that seeing some of the worst things that can happen to truly innocent victims has on the people who strive to get justice for those left behind.
To a person, they agreed that stiffer penalties were needed to combat DUI, and to a person, they said everyone needs to take more responsibility for their actions to reduce the number of crashes, including deadly ones.
The somber warning from team chief Eric Bauman, a 17-year veteran of DUI prosecutions:
"Anyone in this room, anyone watching right now, you could be the next victim, and you'll never see it coming."
-
-
New body camera footage shows moments police arrive at deadly road rage shooting
New body camera footage released by the Henderson police Department shows the moments an officer arrives at the deadly road rage shooting that killed an 11-year-old in Henderson.
New details in driver's history with police before 12-car crash that killed two
According to the arrest report, Jose Gutierrez was driving roughly 100 mph and did not apply the brakes in his silver Infiniti coupe as he approached the intersection of Cheyenne and Jones.
19-year-old faces charges after deadly Las Vegas crash
A 19-year-old Las Vegas man is facing reckless driving charges after police say he caused a deadly crash that killed two people Tuesday night, including his own passenger.
Ride along with LVMPD to see the crackdown on reckless driving
Two people died in a 12-car crash at Cheyenne and Jones when a speeding driver hit vehicles stopped at a red light, prompting Metro Police crackdowns.
-
