Kansas City Family Finds Hope In Vegas After Fatal Hit-And-Run Victim’s Dog Is Found Alive

A Kansas City family mourning a devastating loss is clinging to one small light in the darkness after a beloved dog was found safe in Las Vegas, thanks to a rapid and emotional community response.

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of New Year’s Day, when 43-year-old visitor Lynessa Perkins was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash near Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road.

Her dog, Lola, fled the scene in panic, sparking fears that the family had lost everything at once.

Tragedy On The Las Vegas Strip

Investigators say Perkins was walking near the Strip around 1 a.m. with Lola when she was hit by a vehicle while in a travel lane.

The driver, later identified as 77-year-old Edward Dias of California, allegedly fled instead of stopping to help.

Perkins, believed to have been heading toward a nearby Greyhound bus stop, did not survive her injuries.

News of her death reached relatives in Missouri hours later, compounding the shock of losing her so suddenly and so far from home.

Anger Toward A Veteran Officer

Dias is a longtime veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, with a 27-year career in law enforcement. That fact has only deepened the family’s anger.

Perkins’ cousin, Erika McCoy of Kansas City, said the family was especially disturbed that someone so familiar with protocol allegedly admitted he knew he had hit “something” but still chose to leave the scene.

While acknowledging that Lynessa may have been walking in the roadway, McCoy stressed that fleeing denied her cousin any chance of lifesaving aid.

The family now hopes the criminal case results in real accountability, not what they fear could be a lenient outcome.

Lola Runs, And Las Vegas Responds

In the chaos after the crash, Lola bolted into the night, disappearing near the south Strip. For hours, the family feared the dog had also been lost.

McCoy later learned that Lola might still be alive after spotting comments on a local news video, with sightings shared inside the Lost Dogs of Vegas Facebook group. What followed was a remarkable online surge.

Within just over an hour, roughly a thousand shares triggered an all-hands-on-deck search across the area. Locals canvassed streets, shared tips, and coordinated sightings as word spread rapidly.

That effort soon connected McCoy with Paws Patrol LV, a local rescue group that joined the search and ultimately located Lola about three miles from the crash site.

Rescue, Vet Care, And A Second Chance

Paws Patrol LV brought Lola to safety and rushed her for veterinary care. The exam revealed a tapeworm, an umbilical hernia, and the need for spaying — all of which were addressed by the rescue.

For a family suddenly preparing to travel across the country for funeral arrangements, knowing that Lola was alive and receiving care became a powerful source of comfort amid the grief.

McCoy said she was “blown away” by the compassion shown by strangers in Las Vegas who organized searches, shared posts, and supported her from hundreds of miles away in Kansas City.

Reunion And A Call For Justice

Perkins’ relatives are now traveling to Las Vegas to reunite with Lola and bring her into the family’s care as they prepare memorial services for Lynessa.

Alongside their gratitude, the family is scheduled to meet with the Clark County district attorney to discuss the case and push for meaningful consequences for the driver.

They have also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover travel and funeral expenses as they navigate both heartbreak and the logistics of a fatal crash in another state.

Through it all, Lola’s rescue has become a rare bright spot — a symbol of how a city of strangers rallied for a frightened dog, and in doing so, honored the woman who loved her.