Las Vegas just witnessed another hard lesson in what happens when personal responsibility gets sidelined—this time, with deadly consequences. A young woman’s life was cut short just steps from Arbor View High School, all because a man who allegedly had no business behind the wheel chose to drive impaired.
On Friday, 37-year-old Keenan Jackson was behind the wheel of a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu when he struck and killed 18-year-old McKenzie Scott. The crash happened at 11:25 a.m. in broad daylight near North Buffalo Drive—right in front of the school she was set to graduate from later this month. Instead of preparing for prom, McKenzie’s friends gathered around a memorial. Instead of shopping for a cap and gown, her family is now planning a funeral.
Jackson, who moved to Las Vegas from New York just a few months ago, reportedly didn’t have a valid driver’s license. Yet he was out on the road anyway. Prosecutors charged him with DUI resulting in death, reckless driving, and other offenses. Despite his lack of prior criminal history, the court recognized what many Americans already know—recklessness is a danger to the community. Bail was set at $500,000.
But the problem isn’t just the individual behind the wheel. It’s also the system that allows reckless, unlicensed drivers to turn neighborhoods—especially school zones—into danger zones. When public officials issue statements like “remain vigilant and cautious,” are they speaking to drivers or the kids walking home from school? Is the solution more memorials, or better enforcement and consequences?
McKenzie Scott’s death is the 59th traffic-related fatality this year in Metro’s jurisdiction. How many more until we stop blaming infrastructure and start demanding accountability—from drivers, city planners, and lawmakers alike?
There’s already a GoFundMe that’s raised nearly $20,000 for her family. And while that’s a beautiful show of community strength, what this nation needs is a cultural shift back to common sense: You don’t drive drunk. You don’t drive without a license. And if you do, there should be no leniency—only justice.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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