Early morning jaywalker hit by cab, killed on LV Strip

David Kihara

Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 10:26 a.m.

A 29-year-old Utah man was killed early this morning when he was hit by a Nellis Cab on the Strip near Treasure Island.

Allan Butler of Salt Lake City was jaywalking with two friends on Las Vegas Blvd. near Buccaneer Lane with two friends at around 3 a.m. when the cab struck him, Metro Police said.

The cab driver, Stefan Crosby, 37, was not at fault and will not face any charges or citations, said Det. Doug Nutton of Metro's fatal detail.

Crosby and his passenger were not hurt in the accident.

"The cab driver didn't have a chance to see him or stop," said Rob Stewart, spokesman for the Nevada Taxicab Authority, who was at the scene of the collision this morning.

He said the taxicab authority will examine the cab for any mechanical problems, but a preliminary investigation shows that the cab was in fine working order, he said.

Crosby has had a permit to drive a cab since November 2003 and has a clean driving record, Stewart said.

Crosby had picked up a passenger at the Venetian before the accident and was driving northbound toward Spring Mountain Road. The cab had a green light and was going through an intersection at Buccaneer Lane when three people entered the street, officials said.

Two jaywalkers walked behind the cab while Butler tried to cross the street in front of the cab, said Nutton.

The cab struck Butler, who hit the vehicle's windshield before rolling off the cab, Nutton said.

Butler was taken to Sunrise and died shortly after arrival, he said.

Nutton said that the accident could have been prevented because an overhead pedestrian walkway was located nearby.

"They could have used it. Millions of dollars have been spent to prevent this type of incident," Nutton said.

One of Butler's companions said they were drinking alcohol but Butler's blood-alcohol level had not been determined as of this morning, Button said.