Denise Rosch reporting

A major race weekend in the valley turned tragic when a runner was killed on the side of the road. 33 year old Jeremy Kunz of Utah was in Las Vegas for the Ragnar relay race. It's a 180 mile run which started in Logandale and ended at Red Rock Station.

The race involves roughly 2,400 runners split into 200 teams. Kunz was hit and killed near Horizon Ridge and Gibson in Henderson. It was a loss felt by everyone along the route.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks," said participant Jeff Smith. "It happened on my leg - not at the same time; they re-routed me to another area."

It happened at about 4:30 Saturday morning. Police say 25 year old Joshua Salayick of Henderson was speeding when he lost control of his car and hit Kunz on the side of the road. The car then crossed the center median and rolled in the desert.

"The driver of the car fled the area," explains Keith Paul, Henderson PD. "Fortunately, officers were able to catch him half a mile from the accident scene. We booked him on DUI with death and leaving the scene of the accident charges."

In a full page letter to relay participants, organizers expressed their sorrow and thanks to runners who stopped to help. More words of condolence appear on the Ragnar Facebook page. One runner wrote:

On the course we all look out for each other and feel a kinship that few may understand if they haven't personally experienced it.

Kunz was a husband, father and experienced runner who died doing something he loved.

The Ragnar relay race began in 2004 and is one of the largest relay races in the nation. This was the first time it was held in Las Vegas.