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On May 30th, 2025, a man, Jeffrey Diedenhofen, was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving a California driver, Stephon Watkins, on the Las Vegas Strip.
On May 18, 2026, Watkins was sentenced by Nevada Judge Kathleen Delaney to 4 to 12 years in state prison. This sentence followed Watkins' April 2026 guilty plea for failure to stop at the scene of a crash.
Watkins' violation of the Nevada duty-to-stop law, as outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 484E, is why he will be serving prison time for this motor vehicle crash. Had he stayed at the scene, called the police, and rendered aid to the best of his ability, he would most likely only be facing a civil lawsuit for the economic and non-economic damages his negligence caused.
Details on the Hit-and-Run Crash
This fatal hit-and-run crash occurred around 3:30 AM on the Las Vegas Strip at West Flamingo Road. The victim, Jeffery Diedenhofen, was said to be crossing the road at the time of the crash when Watkins 2016 BMW X5 hit Diedenhofen.
After colliding with Diedenhofen, Watkins continued driving east on the Strip before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing back to Sacramento, California.
Through investigations conducted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Watkins was identified, arrested in Sacramento in December 2025, and extradited back to Nevada to face charges.
Attorney’s Point of View on This Hit-and-Run Crash
As the founding attorney at the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm, I have handled many hit-and-run crashes across Las Vegas and understand the pain, confusion, anxiety, and anger a hit-and-run can cause in a victim.
Through seeing the pain caused by hit-and-run crashes to victims, I’m exceptionally glad to see the perpetrator tried and convicted for violating Nevada car accident laws. I hope this sentence serves as a warning to anyone tempted to flee the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
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Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer is a Las Vegas personal injury law firm with over 20 years of experience helping clients obtain maximum compensation following injuries from accidents such as car crashes, worksite injuries, and slips and falls. Over those years, The Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm has become an experienced law firm that can ensure exceptional results for any of its clients.
