Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run accident

Jen Lawson and Christina Littlefield

Friday, April 22, 2005 | 9:01 a.m.

A hit-and-run, auto-pedestrian accident Thursday morning left a homeless man dead and the driver of a pickup truck behind bars, authorities said.

Trooper Angie Chavera, Nevada Highway Patrol spokeswoman, said Stephen Maupin, 29, of Las Vegas was arrested in the Crazy Horse Too topless club shortly after the accident.

He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence causing death, hit and run, possession of marijuana and other offenses.

The victim's name has not yet been released.

The homeless man was struck while walking in or near a crosswalk on Sahara Avenue just east of Interstate 15. He was dragged the man several feet, Chavera said.

The man died on impact, she said.

"It was a hard hit, I haven't seen an auto-ped where the vehicle has sustained that much damage in a long time," Chavera said.

The driver and his female passenger fled the scene, she said. The passenger, whom Chavera said is from Texas got out of the truck and went into the nearby Circus Circus, where she reported the accident to hotel security.

The damaged truck was parked across the street from the Crazy Horse Too, and a cabdriver pointed it out to troopers, Chavera said.

Troopers found Maupin inside moments after the accident and arrested him. He was taken into custody without incident, Chavera said.