The family of an 18-year-old Nevada high school senior who was killed by a drunk driver while preparing for a graduation event has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Clark County School District, the City of Las Vegas, and the driver involved in the crash.
McKenzie Scott, a student at Arbor View High School, died in May 2025 after being struck by a vehicle while walking to retrieve her graduation cap and gown for the school’s “Senior Walk” ceremony, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges school officials directed students to park off campus because of limited parking availability, placing students in what the family describes as a dangerous crossing area near the school.
Lawsuit
Scott’s parents filed the lawsuit exactly one year after her death.
The legal complaint accuses the Clark County School District, commonly known as CCSD, and the City of Las Vegas of negligence and wrongful death. The driver involved in the crash, Keenan Jackson, is also named in the suit.
According to court documents, Arbor View High School sent students an email on April 9, 2025, instructing them to park on North Buffalo Drive because of “insufficient on-campus parking.”
The lawsuit states Scott followed those instructions on the day of the event.
“Scott was an 18-year-old high school senior at Arbor View High School,” the complaint states. “She was scheduled to participate in the school’s ‘Senior Walk’ ceremony that day.”
Her family says she was walking to her parked vehicle to retrieve her cap and gown when the crash occurred.
Crash
According to the complaint, Scott was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk on North Buffalo Drive when Jackson struck her with a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
The family alleges Scott was “lawfully crossing” when Jackson failed to yield the right of way.
“Jackson failed to yield the right of way and struck her with his vehicle,” the complaint states. “The impact caused Scott to sustain catastrophic blunt force injuries.”
Scott was transported to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Authorities previously charged Jackson in connection with the crash. Court records show he pleaded guilty in October 2025 to DUI resulting in death and was sentenced in November to serve eight to 20 years in prison.
Safety Concerns
A major focus of the lawsuit involves allegations that the crosswalk near the school had already been identified as hazardous before the crash.
According to the complaint, there had been “multiple complaints and concerns” regarding the safety of the crosswalk before Scott’s death.
The family claims both the City of Las Vegas and CCSD were aware of the risks but failed to take adequate steps to improve pedestrian safety.
The complaint alleges the city failed to install warning systems, traffic signals, or other safety measures despite having knowledge of what the family describes as dangerous conditions.
The lawsuit also argues that the school district should have anticipated the risks connected to directing students to park off campus along Buffalo Drive.
According to the filing, school officials “knew or should have known” students would be exposed to an unsafe crossing area and failed to provide crossing guards or additional protections.
Changes
The lawsuit further states that safety improvements were implemented after Scott’s death.
According to the complaint, overhead pedestrian-activated flashers and additional signage were later installed at the crosswalk. A crossing guard program at Arbor View High School was also introduced following the incident.
Scott’s family argues those measures demonstrate that safer options were available before the crash occurred.
The lawsuit claims the safety changes were feasible to implement prior to May 2, 2025, the day Scott was killed.
Responses
The family is requesting a jury trial and seeking damages exceeding $130,000.
In a statement provided to Law&Crime, a spokesperson for the Clark County School District said the district continues to express sympathy for Scott’s family.
“The CCSD community continues to share our deepest condolences with the family of McKenzie Scott,” the statement said. “While we continue to provide support to the school community following the tragic loss, CCSD does not comment on pending litigation.”
The City of Las Vegas also acknowledged the lawsuit and stated it is reviewing the filing.
Broader Discussion
The case has raised broader questions regarding pedestrian safety around schools, especially in areas where students are directed to park off campus because of limited parking capacity.
Traffic safety advocates often point to marked crosswalk visibility, traffic calming devices, crossing guards, and pedestrian warning systems as important protections in school zones and high-traffic student areas.
As the lawsuit moves forward, the court proceedings are expected to focus on whether school officials and city agencies took reasonable steps to address known safety concerns before the fatal crash occurred.
FAQs
Who was killed in the Nevada crash?
Arbor View senior McKenzie Scott was killed.
What does the lawsuit claim?
It alleges negligence and wrongful death.
Who is named in the lawsuit?
CCSD, Las Vegas, and the driver are named.
What happened after the crash?
New crosswalk safety measures were installed.
What sentence did the driver receive?
He was sentenced to 8 to 20 years.
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