Driver arrested in pedestrian’s death

Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 | 11:32 a.m.

North Las Vegas Police charged a 26-year-old man with felony driving under the influence after a pedestrian was killed Saturday morning.

Dolores Arana Lopez, 47, of North Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which happened around 7 a.m. at the intersection of Decatur Boulevard and Alexander Road, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

Police said Lopez was crossing Decatur at Alexander in a crosswalk with the green traffic signal, but she stopped on the median when the light changed to red.

A 2000 white Dodge Neon driven by Leonel Ibarra-Herrera was northbound on Decatur and struck the woman as she stood on the traffic island, police said. Her body was thrown about 200 feet. She died at the scene, police said.

The driver tried to drive away, but the car stalled, police said. He got out of the vehicle and tried to run, police said.

Witnesses directed police to where the man had run, and he was taken into custody by officers without incident. He was not injured.

Police booked Ibarra-Herrera into the North Las Vegas Detention Center on charges of felony driving while under the influence of alcohol and felony hit and run.