At a Glance
- Matias Lagarreta, father of a one-month-old, was struck by a white SUV while on his motorcycle.
- The driver fled; police seek a 2020-2022 White Kia Sportage with possible right-side damage.
- Lagarreta suffered a brain bleed and bruised lungs and remains in a medically induced coma.
Why it matters: A family’s plea for justice highlights the human cost of hit-and-run crashes and the critical need for public tips to find the fleeing driver.
Las Vegas police are hunting for the driver of a white SUV who fled after slamming into Matias Lagarreta, a new father who now clings to life with a brain bleed.
The Crash
The collision happened Monday, Jan. 12, at 5:15 p.m. at Marion Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard. Investigators say a white SUV-described as a “2020-2022 White Kia Sportage or similar vehicle”-struck Lagarreta’s motorcycle and sped away.
Lagarreta was ejected from the bike. The SUV likely has fresh damage on its right side.
A Family Shattered
Lagarreta and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their first child, a daughter, on Dec. 15, 2025. Just one month later, their world turned upside down.
Ashley told FOX 5 Vegas the couple had planned to run errands together that afternoon. At the last moment she stayed home; Matias took the motorcycle instead.
> “We were gonna run our errands together, but he said, ‘No, it’s OK. I’ll go on the motorcycle,'” she recalled.
Paramedics rushed Lagarreta to University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries:
- Brain bleed
- Bruised lungs
- Placed in ICU in a medically induced coma
A Glimmer of Hope
On Thursday, Jan. 15, Lagarreta woke from the coma.
> “I was able to tell him I love him, and he was able to say it back,” Ashley said, crying.
The moment offered relief, but the road ahead remains uncertain.
Public Plea
Ashley urged the unknown driver to come forward.
> “It’s scary to think that I could lose the father of my child. If you were scared, and that was the case, admit you were scared.”
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) echoed her appeal, asking anyone with information to step up.
If you have:
- Dash-cam footage
- Doorbell video
- Sightings of the damaged SUV
Contact:
- LVMPD: 702-828-3595
- Crime Stoppers of Nevada: 702-385-5555
Fundraising Efforts
Relatives launched a GoFundMe to cover mounting medical bills and support the newborn. Donations have poured in as the story spreads across social media.
Key Takeaways
- A white SUV, likely a Kia Sportage, is the target of a city-wide search.
- Tips from the public could crack the case.
- One family’s tragedy underscores the stakes when drivers flee crash scenes.
Anyone with information, no matter how small, is urged to call immediately.
