Since 2010, Julius Hopkins has been reportedly cited by the police on a minimum of 19 events for numerous visitors infractions, which embody driving and not using a license, insurance coverage, and registration. Nonetheless, none of those violations prevented the 32-year previous from being behind the wheel on the night time of September twenty third when he allegedly struck and fatally injured bicycle owner Nathan Miller, 32. Now, Hopkins is incarcerated and questions on why he was driving are flying at a number of events.

The accident occurred on Nellis Blvd close to Tropicana Ave in Las Vegas. Video of the scene reveals Miller driving via the scene on his bike. Mere seconds after he’s left the picture a black car rushes up behind him, swerves from one lane into the subsequent, and seems to lose management.

Hopkins was reportedly piloting that automobile and police say that he was reportedly rushing too. Actually, they blamed him for the accident and for dropping management of the automobile however didn’t arrest him on the time of the crash. Solely after an unbiased investigation did police lastly take Hopkins into custody on October twenty sixth.

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That investigation by native information station 8 Information Now uncovered that Hopkins has a minimum of 19 citations for driving and not using a license, insurance coverage, or registration since 2010. “I’ve by no means been in an accident in my life,” Hopkins stated. “I wasn’t purported to be driving, sure. I used to be not purported to be driving. These are details. These are details. However I’ve by no means been in an accident in my life, and I by no means anticipated one thing to occur like that in my life.”

He says that he’s been denied a license prior to now due to the citations and that driving with out one is a essential evil to take care of his household: “I’ve to attempt to make one thing occur. I’ve a spouse. I’ve a child. I’m a godparent, man. I’m a father that works. I’ve to do one thing, I can’t simply be a sitting duck simply because I don’t have a license.”

Notably, Nevada decriminalized minor visitors offenses final January. Now, Hopkins is totally incapable of caring for his household as he’s sitting in a jail cell on a $50,000 bond. He’s dealing with costs of reckless driving leading to loss of life, youngster endangerment, and driving and not using a license, insurance coverage, or registration.

The place do you stand on all of this? It’s evident that Hopkins bears accountability for his driving conduct, however does the state deserve some accountability for not holding him extra accountable earlier than the accident? Tell us your ideas within the feedback beneath.

Picture Credit score: 8News Now