Las Vegas Uber driver arrested after fatally running over pedestrian near Circa
DUI charges dropped after blood test shows no alcohol or drugs in driver’s system
A Las Vegas Uber driver faces reckless driving charges after allegedly running over a pedestrian twice during an altercation near Circa Resort and Casino, resulting in the man’s death last Friday night.
Kevin Vo, 45, was arrested following the incident that killed 56-year-old Matthew Bowen outside the downtown casino on August 8. While initially charged with DUI resulting in death, prosecutors dropped that charge Tuesday after blood tests revealed no alcohol or drugs in Vo’s system.
Fatal encounter stems from confrontation
According to Metropolitan Police Department arrest reports, the incident began around 10:20 p.m. when Vo was parked on the west side of First Street near East Ogden Avenue, waiting for Uber ride requests in the loading dock area of Circa Hotel.
Vo became involved in an argument with an unidentified man who allegedly approached his Cadillac Escalade making threats. In his interview with police, Vo stated the man made “unprovoked threats towards him, stating that he would kill him” and attempted to enter his vehicle.
Surveillance video captured Vo exiting his SUV to confront the man while holding a hammer-style glass breaker with a seatbelt cutter, attempting to get the man away from his vehicle. As Vo re-entered the Escalade, the unknown man pushed on the driver’s door.
Tragic sequence of events
In an attempt to flee the threatening situation, Vo put his vehicle in reverse. At that moment, Bowen, who was not involved in the altercation, walked behind the Cadillac outside of any marked crosswalk.
Vo’s SUV struck Bowen, knocking him to the ground and running over him with the rear wheels. The driver narrowly missed the unidentified man he was trying to escape from.
According to the arrest report, Vo then pulled forward toward the unknown man’s location, missing him but colliding with yellow guard poles protecting the hotel’s loading dock. In moving forward, the vehicle ran over Bowen a second time.
Driver’s response and arrest
After the collision, Vo exited his vehicle to check on Bowen. Witnesses reported seeing the Cadillac roll backward before Vo re-entered to put it in park. A security guard attempted CPR on Bowen while emergency services were called.
Bowen was transported to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
The unidentified man who had threatened Vo fled the scene on foot and has not been located by police.
Charges and legal proceedings
At the scene, officers conducted field sobriety tests on Vo and initially believed he was impaired, leading to his arrest on charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving resulting in death.
However, Vo’s attorney, Justin Wilson, revealed Wednesday that blood test results showed his client had a 0 percent blood alcohol content with no drugs in his system.
“It seems to me that the nature of the incident itself provides more of an explanation as to why he might not have been so steady on his feet than intoxication,” Wilson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Clark County District Attorney’s office dropped the DUI resulting in death charge on Tuesday. Vo appeared in court Wednesday morning, where he pleaded not guilty to the remaining charge of reckless driving resulting in death.
Current status
Vo was released after posting $10,000 bail with conditions that he stays out of trouble and does not drive. His initial bail had been set at $250,000 before the DUI charge was dropped.
Wilson emphasized that his client was trying to escape a threatening situation when the tragic accident occurred. “Once he realized what happened, he immediately got out of his vehicle and stopped and tried to render aid,” the attorney said.
The case highlights the dangerous and unpredictable situations that can arise for rideshare drivers working in busy entertainment districts. Uber has not yet commented on the incident or Vo’s employment status with the company.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office listed the victim’s name as Matthew Bowens, though police reports identified him as Bowen. His official cause and manner of death were still pending as of Wednesday.
Image Sources: https://www.ktnv.com/news/las-vegas-uber-driver-arrested-after-repeatedly-running-over-pedestrian-killing-them
Category: Breaking News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 08/14/2025
