April 29, 2026 - 9:43 am

Police arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run crash that critically injured Sam Morris, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s director of photography, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson said Wednesday.

Eric McDaniels, 37, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Clark County Detention Center, the spokesperson said. He faces a felony charge of failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, and misdemeanor counts of operating an expired unregistered vehicle and failing to have proof of insurance.

McDaniels is scheduled to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court at 9 a.m. Thursday, according to court records.

Earlier Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Jarvis Dudley said the driver in the crash had been detained Wednesday morning and was being interviewed by police.

Morris was treated at University Medical Center and released from the hospital as of Tuesday, according to Executive Editor Glenn Cook.

“We’d like to thank Las Vegas police for so thoroughly investigating the crash that injured Sam,” Cook said. “Sam continues to make progress in his recovery, and we look forward to the day he is able to lead our visuals team again.”

Morris was riding his bicycle in the 3200 block of East St. Louis Avenue near Fremont Street on the morning of April 23 when the crash occurred. The driver of a red sedan fled the scene.

Dudley said at the time that witnesses reported that the crash stemmed from a road rage incident.

He said Morris and the driver “exchanged words” before the driver cut Morris off and slammed on the brakes, causing Morris to crash into the back of the vehicle.

Video footage obtained by the Review-Journal and recorded by a security camera at Cars Plus on East St. Louis appears to show a red sedan slowing down. Morris, riding his bike, appears to collide with the vehicle and falls to the pavement.

McDaniels does not have an extensive criminal record in Clark County, but court records show that at the time of the crash, he was subject to arrest on a bench warrant after failing to appear in court in February.

In the prior case that led to the warrant, he faces one count each of not having proof of insurance and displaying fictitious, canceled, revoked, suspended or altered vehicle registration, license plate or title.

He also has a pending case dating back to 2023 in which he pleaded no contest to destroying another person’s property valued between $25 and $250. A status check hearing in that case is scheduled for May.

Court records also show traffic citations. McDaniels was cited in 2023 and accused of driving 21 to 29 mph over the speed limit and ordered to pay a $305 fine. He was also cited in 2018 and accused of having a suspended driver’s license. Court records show that case was closed in 2025 and deemed uncollectible.

Morris, a photojournalist with more than 25 years of experience in the Las Vegas Valley, was named the Review-Journal’s director of photography in December 2023.

Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com. Assistant City Editor Brett Clarkson and Staff Reporter Noble Brigham contributed to this report.