81-Year-Old Driver Dies Weeks After Sunset Road Collision Near Dean Martin

Las Vegas— The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) confirmed Tuesday that an elderly driver has died from injuries sustained in a three-vehicle crash on West Sunset Road earlier this summer.

The collision occurred on July 9, 2025, at approximately 9:25 a.m. on Sunset Road, just west of Dean Martin Drive. According to investigators, a 2014 Ram 1500 pickup was stopped behind a 2017 Porsche Macan at a marked stop sign when it was struck from behind by a 2012 Lincoln MKS.

Police said evidence at the scene, along with driver statements, indicated that the Lincoln’s driver, later identified as 81-year-old Raymond Beranek of Las Vegas, failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the Ram. The force of the impact pushed the Ram forward into the Porsche.

Emergency Response and Hospitalization

Emergency Medical Services and LVMPD officers responded immediately to the scene. Beranek, along with 44-year-old Alejandra Gallegos-Zarate, a passenger in the Ram, was transported to a local hospital. Gallegos-Zarate sustained minor injuries, while the Ram’s driver, 35-year-old Cristhian Ordaz-Alvarez of North Las Vegas, was not injured.

The Porsche’s driver, 30-year-old Ashiana Khar of Las Vegas, also reported minor injuries.

Delayed Fatality Notification

On September 3, 2025, LVMPD’s Collision Investigation Section was notified by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner that Beranek had died on August 10, 2025, nearly a month after the crash. His death was attributed to injuries sustained in the collision.

Because the fatality occurred outside Nevada’s 30-day reporting limit, it will not be included in LVMPD’s official fatal crash statistics for the year. Police emphasized that the case remains an active investigation.

Ongoing Collision Investigation

The LVMPD Traffic Bureau continues to review the circumstances leading up to the crash. Authorities have not released further details about potential contributing factors such as speed, impairment, or distraction.

The agency reminds drivers to exercise caution, particularly at high-traffic intersections like Sunset and Dean Martin, which connect commuter corridors and business districts near the Las Vegas Strip.

Victim Information:

• Driver 1 (Fatal): Raymond Beranek, 81, male, Las Vegas – 2012 Lincoln MKS
• Driver 2: Cristhian Ordaz-Alvarez, 35, male, North Las Vegas – 2014 Ram 1500 (no injury)
• Passenger 2: Alejandra Gallegos-Zarate, 44, female, North Las Vegas – minor injury
• Driver 3: Ashiana Khar, 30, female, Las Vegas – 2017 Porsche Macan (minor injury)

Covering the streets and the stories that shape them – Jake Monroe.

Jake Monroe

Crime and courts reporter covering law enforcement, court cases, and breaking incidents across Southern Nevada.