McKenzie Scott, 18, killed by drunk driver, allegedly

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Las Vegas High School Senior Killed in Crosswalk; Driver Pleads Guilty in DUI Crash

LAS VEGAS (DailyKenn.com) — An 18-year-old high school senior was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver in a marked crosswalk just outside her Las Vegas campus, sparking widespread grief, community protests and calls for enhanced pedestrian safety measures.

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McKenzie Scott, a senior at Arbor View High School, died May 2, 2025, after being hit by a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Keenan Jackson while crossing North Buffalo Drive to pick up her graduation regalia. Authorities said Jackson was speeding with a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit and an empty marijuana vape cartridge was found in his car. He remained at the scene and was arrested on felony charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. Bail was set at $500,000.

The incident marked the 59th traffic fatality in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's jurisdiction that year. Scott, who had secured a full-ride scholarship to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to study cell and molecular biology with dreams of becoming a crime scene investigator, was weeks away from graduation.

Classmates and family remembered Scott as a kind, free-spirited soul who "brought light to every room" and made others feel valued. A candlelight vigil drew hundreds that evening, with attendees sharing stories of her infectious smile and outgoing nature. "She was a bright sun on a very dark road," one student said.

The tragedy cast a pall over Arbor View's campus, where students returned for their first full day Monday amid a makeshift memorial of flowers, photos and messages reading "Heaven gained an angel" and "#LLMS — Long Live McKenzie Scott." Police increased their presence around the school, pulling over drivers and issuing warnings, while counselors were made available.

Outrage over the preventable death fueled immediate action. Students Isabella Cole and Caden Sano launched an online petition demanding crossing guards, stoplights and traffic controls at Clark County School District campuses, amassing over 1,400 signatures in days. Parents like Chris Copeland, whose son walks the same route, expressed fear: "It could've been him."

On May 7, dozens rallied near the crash site with signs proclaiming "Justice for McKenzie," "Slow Down for Kids" and "Not Another Life." Volunteers, including parent Ashley Brewer — whose son was also recently hit by a car nearby — donned neon vests to usher students across the intersection, shouting at impatient motorists.

City officials responded swiftly, launching a traffic study and announcing enhancements under the Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths by 2050. By June, crews installed pedestrian-activated overhead flashers, repainted the crosswalk in brighter lines and added neon green signage. A pilot crossing guard program, previously limited to elementary and select middle schools, was expanded to Arbor View in the fall, though not in time for the 2024-25 school year. Mayor Shelley Berkley pledged lower speed limits near the school, citing the need to protect walking and biking students over traffic convenience.

Arbor View's May 27 graduation at the Thomas & Mack Center honored Scott's absence poignantly. Principal Duane Bickmore called her name first for her diploma, as graduates wore ribbons in her memory. "Although she can't be with us today, she will always be part of Arbor View's class of 2025," Bickmore said. Classmates like Gracie Schwarz teared up, reflecting on the "senseless and tragic loss."

In August, Scott's mother, Tiffany Reynolds, returned to the crosswalk with family for the new school year's start, holding a photo of her daughter despite the pain. "It's important to show up for McKenzie, for our Arbor View family and for the community that we love," she said. The family's private memorial was held May 21 in Meeteetse, Wyoming, where Scott had family roots; a GoFundMe raised funds for funeral costs.

The outcry intensified in October after another student, 12-year-old Cristofer Suarez, was killed by an impaired driver near J.D. Smith Middle School. Parents renewed demands for action, prompting further improvements like extended flasher hours and cleaned crosswalks at that site.

On Oct. 13, Jackson pleaded guilty to the charges in a deal reached a week before trial, visibly emotional as Reynolds held up Scott's photo in court alongside her son Kasen, 12, and mother Donna Murray. Sentencing is pending.

Scott is survived by her mother, brother, grandmother and extended family in Las Vegas and Wyoming.