Las Vegas family seeks justice after 2 teens hit by car – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
North Las Vegas — Sirens wailed through a quiet afternoon as a routine trip to the store for two sisters turned into unimaginable loss. Seventeen-year-old Janiah Gant lost her life at the scene from blunt force injuries, while her 19-year-old sister Leilani Wigfall fought severe wounds that left her hospitalized and in need of extensive reconstruction.[1][2] Their mother, Angela Anderson, raced to the chaos upon hearing the emergency response, sensing deep down that her daughters were involved. The family now channels grief into a public plea for justice against the driver responsible.[1]
The Chaotic Collision at Craig and Simmons
North Las Vegas police responded around 3:41 p.m. on May 2 to a multi-vehicle wreck near West Craig Road and Simmons Street.[3] A 2020 BMW X3 sped northbound on Simmons Street, exceeding 80 mph in a 35 mph zone while weaving through traffic and passing other cars. The driver ran a red light and collided with a 2021 Kia Optima executing a left turn.
The BMW did not stop. It veered off the road, slamming into a utility pole, landscaping, a cinder block wall, and a fence before striking the two pedestrians on the sidewalk. The Kia driver escaped injury, as did a juvenile passenger in the BMW.[3][1] Witnesses described the vehicle’s reckless path leading up to the tragedy, prompting an investigation by the department’s Major Crash Unit.
Two Bright Lives Upended
Janiah Gant, affectionately known as “Smiley” by her great-aunt, was a shy high school senior set to graduate early this month. She enjoyed video games and shared an infectious smile with those close to her. Her sister Leilani embodied artistry and optimism, always finding good in others.[1][2]
Leilani survived the impact but endured devastating injuries: both legs broken, brain bleeding, and the loss of all her teeth, requiring facial reconstruction and multiple surgeries. Recent updates offer glimmers of hope. She now sits up, converses, sips water, and even cracks jokes, a testament to her resilience amid a grueling recovery.[1] Anderson captured the bittersweet reality: “You know I’m thankful that I could bring one child home, but the other one shouldn’t be gone.”
Driver’s Refusal and Mounting Charges
Authorities identified the BMW driver as 32-year-old Triquan Huges, who had his 10-year-old son buckled in the front passenger seat. The child remained unharmed and was collected by a relative shortly after.[1] Officers noted signs of impairment, including a strong alcohol odor, though no DUI charge has surfaced pending blood test results.
Huges declined a field sobriety test and initially refused a blood draw, reportedly stating he preferred jail to post bail quickly. He now faces felony counts of reckless driving resulting in death, reckless driving causing substantial bodily harm, child abuse or endangerment, and driving without a valid license. A judge set bail at $250,000, with an arraignment scheduled for May 6.[3][4]
- Reckless driving resulting in death
- Reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm
- Child endangerment
- Driving without a valid license
A Mother’s Raw Confrontation at the Scene
Anderson arrived frantic, scanning wreckage amid smoke and downed trees. Neighbors relayed that paramedics airlifted Leilani, but confirmation on Janiah proved elusive for hours despite her insistence as the mother of a minor. “I’m asking everybody. Nobody wants to tell me anything. It’s just ‘ongoing, ongoing, ongoing,’” she recounted.[1]
She locked eyes with Huges in the back of a patrol car. He allegedly pointed her toward one daughter before officers stepped in, leaving her to piece together the horror. Anderson’s outrage peaked over reports that Huges prioritized his son without aiding her girls. Her message to him rings clear: “I want the max times two on every f – ing thing.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign organized by cousin Alisha Dillon to cover Janiah’s funeral and Leilani’s rehabilitation, surgeries, and dental work. Donations have surpassed $3,400 toward a $10,000 goal.[5]
As Leilani’s progress inspires cautious optimism, Anderson vows to see the case through court. The intersection, once a familiar path home, now stands as a stark reminder of speed’s deadly toll. North Las Vegas police continue investigating, urging tips to aid closure for a family forever altered.
