A witness followed the vehicle to a Topgolf parking lot, police said.
LAS VEGAS, NV — Las Vegas police arrested a 28-year-old Tesla driver on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run after investigators said he drove onto a sidewalk and struck a visiting family from the United Kingdom, leaving a woman and a toddler with life-threatening injuries Sunday night.
Investigators said the crash unfolded in a busy resort-area corridor near the Strip, where crowds and heavy traffic are common on weekend evenings. Police said the Tesla driver left the scene without stopping, but a witness followed the vehicle and helped officers locate the driver minutes later. The case is being handled by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s collision investigators, and the injured family members remained hospitalized.
Police said the collision happened about 7:35 p.m. near East Harmon Avenue and Audrie Lane. A gray 2026 Tesla Model Y was traveling eastbound in the rightmost lane approaching the intersection when the driver “failed to maintain his lane” and drove onto the south sidewalk, the department said in a statement. The Tesla then re-entered the roadway and hit the rear of a stopped 2024 Chevrolet Trax that was waiting at a red light, investigators said.
The impact redirected the Tesla back onto the sidewalk, where police said it struck three pedestrians: a 38-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl who was in a stroller. The family was waiting on the southwest corner of the intersection for the signal to change, police said. Emergency crews arrived and began life-saving measures before transporting the pedestrians to University Medical Center’s trauma center, where they were admitted for further care.
Police said the man suffered minor injuries, while the woman and the child had injuries described as potentially life-threatening. The department did not release the family’s names, identifying them only as visitors from the United Kingdom. Officers also reported minor injuries to the driver of the Chevrolet Trax, 35-year-old Yurdenia Velazco-Hernandez of Las Vegas, who was stopped at the light when the Tesla struck her vehicle from behind.
After hitting the pedestrians, the Tesla continued eastbound and left the crash scene without stopping, police said. A witness followed the vehicle and reported its location to officers, according to the department. Police said the Tesla stopped in the parking lot of Topgolf at 4627 Koval Lane, east of the crash site, and officers found the driver there.
The driver, Gavin Caci of Las Vegas, showed “signs of impairment,” police said. He was booked on DUI and hit-and-run charges, according to the department’s statement and local media reports. Police did not immediately release details about any tests administered, such as breath or blood testing, or whether Caci had legal representation who could comment on his behalf.
The department’s statement said the early findings were based on “evidence at the scene, witness statements, and surveillance videos.” Police did not describe what the videos showed beyond the reported sequence of the Tesla leaving its lane, colliding with the other vehicle, then striking the pedestrians. Officers also did not specify the vehicle’s speed, whether the Tesla’s driver attempted to brake, or what may have caused the car to enter the sidewalk in the first place.
The intersection sits in a part of Las Vegas that draws visitors and residents alike, with hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues nearby. Harmon Avenue is a major east-west route connecting parts of the resort corridor to neighborhoods and businesses farther east, and traffic often increases on Sundays tied to major sporting events and travel schedules. Police have not said whether congestion, lighting or road conditions played any role, and no additional vehicles were reported involved beyond the Tesla and the Chevrolet.
The crash also renewed attention on how quickly a sidewalk collision can become catastrophic for people on foot, especially when small children are involved. Investigators emphasized that the family was waiting at a corner for the signal when the Tesla came onto the sidewalk, a detail that will likely be central as police reconstruct the driver’s path and decisions in the seconds before impact.
In Nevada, DUI and felony hit-and-run cases can turn on evidence of impairment, the seriousness of injuries and whether a driver failed to remain at the scene and render aid. Police said the driver left without stopping, and officers credited a witness with following the Tesla and helping them locate it. Authorities have not said whether additional charges could be considered as the investigation continues, including whether prosecutors will review the case for potential upgrades tied to the victims’ injuries.
Police have not released a timeline for when a formal case file will be submitted to prosecutors, or whether the driver has had an initial court appearance. The department described the investigation as ongoing and said the Collision Investigation Section is handling the case. The condition of the woman and the toddler, both described as having life-threatening injuries, could affect how the case proceeds in the coming days and weeks.
Near the crash site Monday, the intersection continued to carry steady traffic as commuters and tourists moved through the corridor. The area around Harmon Avenue includes crosswalks and sidewalks that are heavily used, particularly during event weekends. Police did not announce any immediate roadway changes at the location, but investigators commonly review signal timing, sight lines and available video footage as part of a full reconstruction.
For the U.K. family, police said only that they were in Las Vegas as visitors and that their identities were being withheld. Hospital officials did not provide updates on their conditions. The injuries to the man were described as minor, but police said the woman and toddler remained in critical condition, underscoring the severity of the impact and the stakes of the investigation.
Authorities said they will continue gathering evidence, reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as they finalize the collision reconstruction. Any next court dates or prosecutorial decisions were not immediately announced. Police said the investigation remained active as of Monday morning.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 9, 2026.