After several high-profile auto-pedestrian accidents in the latter part of 2011, authorities in the valley were hoping that 2012 would see a drop in these types of incidents. But not only has this not been the case, but it almost appears that they are becoming "twice" as bad.

As reported on this blog last week, a man in his 60s was killed when he was struck by not one but two vehicles in Las Vegas while trying to cross Boulder Highway. And believe it or not, another person lost her life in the same manner – on the same day.

On Tuesday, January 24, a 52-year old woman was walking along State Route 160 in Pahrump. About 8pm, the woman was struck by a car near Wheeler Pass Road just south of State Route 372. The impact propelled the woman’s body into a southbound lane. While she was lying there, she was struck by a Nye County Sheriff’s vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. This tragedy occurred about two hours after the fatal auto-pedestrian accident on Boulder Highway.

It’s uncertain whether the Pahrump woman was walking on the shoulder or in a lane of traffic when she was hit by the first car. It is also unclear whether the sheriff’s office squad car should have been able to avoid the woman’s body (although the driver of that vehicle has been placed on paid leave). The answers to these questions will weigh heavily on who might be named as a defendant in any future wrongful death lawsuit that may be filed by the woman’s surviving family members.