A Las Vegas man, Julius Hopkins, who has been ticketed 19 times for driving without a license, registration, or insurance, has described himself as a “good driver” and apologized for killing a bicyclist. Hopkins is facing charges of reckless driving resulting in death, child abuse or endangerment, and having no driver’s license, registration, or insurance following a crash on September 23. The victim, Nathan “Nate” Miller, died hours after the collision. Hopkins was driving a car registered to him, but the registration had expired in March. Miller’s friends and family remember him as a BMX champion who loved riding his bike. Hopkins was initially cited at the crash site and released, but was later arrested on October 26 after questions were raised by friends of the victim. Videos obtained by investigators appeared to show Hopkins’ car jerking before colliding with Miller. Hopkins claims he tried everything to avoid hitting the cyclist and that the crash was the scariest moment of his life. Hopkins has a history of traffic violations, with at least 19 traffic cases across Clark County dating back to 2010. He owed nearly $2,000 in traffic fines as of Friday. Despite not having a license, Hopkins continued to drive, claiming he needed to support his family. Hopkins remains in custody and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in January.
Defying the Odds: Las Vegas Man Ticketed 19 Times Prior to Fatal Crash Defends Himself as Skilled Driver
