In the heart of south Las Vegas, where the vibrant pulse of the city meets the quiet hum of its neighborhoods, a devastating incident has left a community in mourning. On the night of August 12, 2025, just after 11 p.m., the intersection of South Pecos Road and East Tropicana Avenue became the scene of a heart-wrenching tragedy. Randi Weldon, a 47-year-old Las Vegas resident, lost her life to injuries sustained in a hit-and-run crash that also left two others injured. Her passing, confirmed by the Clark County Coroner’s Office on Friday, August 15, has cast a somber shadow over the city.
The collision unfolded under the glow of streetlights at a busy crosswalk, where Weldon, along with April Roberts, 50, and Christopher Washington, 38, both Las Vegas residents, were attempting to cross South Pecos Road. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the trio moved against the pedestrian signal, stepping into the path of a 2019 Toyota Camry driven by 80-year-old Rafi Nersessian of Henderson. With the traffic light green in his favor, Nersessian’s vehicle struck the pedestrians with significant force, sending them sprawling onto the sidewalk. The impact was catastrophic—Weldon and Roberts were rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in critical condition, while Washington, though seriously injured, was later treated and released.
In the chaotic aftermath, Nersessian made a fateful decision that would compound the tragedy: he fled the scene. But the wheels of justice turned swiftly. Using video footage and investigative leads, police tracked Nersessian to his Henderson home, where he was arrested and charged with three counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving injury. The octogenarian driver, now facing the weight of the law, appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on the morning of August 19, as the community grappled with the loss of one of its own.
Randi Weldon’s injuries were described as life-threatening from the moment she was transported to the hospital. For three agonizing days, she fought for her life, but on Friday, her battle ended, leaving behind a void felt deeply by her family, friends, and the broader Las Vegas community. Her story, though cut tragically short, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the ripple effects of a single moment’s recklessness.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, piecing together the events that led to such a devastating outcome. They are urging anyone with information to come forward, offering the Collision Investigation Section’s contact number, 702-828-3595, and the option for anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or their website. Every detail, no matter how small, could bring clarity and closure to those affected.
As Las Vegas reflects on this loss, the intersection of South Pecos and East Tropicana stands as a somber reminder of the need for vigilance, both behind the wheel and on foot. Randi Weldon’s memory endures in the hearts of those who knew her, a beacon of light extinguished too soon in a city that never sleeps.