The North Las Vegas Police Department has identified a 14-year old teenager who was struck and killed as he walked home from school with a friend who was hospitalized with serious injuries Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 9th. 14-year old Elijah Coggins, a freshman at Legacy High School, was walking home walking on a dirt shoulder, facing oncoming traffic, with his friend, 14-year old Trevor Dodd, on N. 5th Street near Centennial Parkway in North Las Vegas.

Elijah and Trevor were walking on a dirt shoulder, facing oncoming traffic, when a maroon sedan that was traveling southbound on 5th Street, veered off the road, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the boys. The boys may have not seen the vehicle coming, as they were engaging in “the right thing to do” by walking against traffic as authorities recommend, NLVPD Officer Eric Leavitt said. Both boys were transported to a University Medical Center Trauma Unit where Elijah succumbed to his injuries and was died shortly after arriving. Trevor was treated for serious injuries and was listed in critical condition. Dodd is expected to survive.

NLVPD say they believe the driver is 21-year old driver of that maroon sedan was not impaired. They are still investigating the incident. Dodd's mother told investigators, the boys rarely walked home, but asked to walk because they wanted to enjoy the rain. Family, friends, and classmates at Legacy High School mourned the passing of Elijah in a vigil for the teen help on Wednesday evening. Friends described the teen as a young man who loved to play video games and hang out with friends. Legacy students were offered grief counseling and CCSD police patrolled the area where the crash happened.

Some students wonder if more can be done to make the stretch of road near 5th Street and Centennial Parkway safer. Currently, the street does not have sidewalks, street lights or permanent stop light fixtures. Pedestrian advocate Erin Breen said little can be done to make the road safer, because the area isn't developed. Once the area is developed it will be the owner’s job to make these improvements. "Sidewalks and street lights and everything... that goes with the developer," Breen said. Breen does suggest the speed limit be lowered. Right now, the speed limit on 5th Street is 35 mph, she suggest it be lowered to 25 mph.

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