Prosecutor: Driver reached 103 mph in crash that killed teacher

A clang that killed a longtime Las Vegas Valley teacher occurred when a motorist drove 103 mph through a 45 mph zone, a prosecutor said Thursday. The motorist, Zachary Zwick, 28, appeared beforehand before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Pro Tem William Jansen on Thursday, where the justice raised Zwick’s bail to $100,000, up from a previously set $10,000. Zwick, who had been released from custody, was handcuffed and taken to the Clark County Detention Center. Prosecutor Sammy Carey Lamb said Zwick was driving recklessly at the time of the May 22 clang that killed Jeff Buchbaum, 55, of Las Vegas, on Boulder Highway near Russell Road. Lamb asked Jansen to set bail at $250,000. “Car information was pulled that showed the suspect good exceeded the velocity limit,” Lamb said. “The velocity bounds was 45 miles per hour. The suspect was driving 103 miles per hour.” Zwick’s attorney, Augustus Claus, argued that under the law prosecutors lacked legal grounds to seek a higher bail because the facts of the case were known when the lower bail amount was established in May. Zwick is charged with two felony counts of reckless driving 50 mph over the speed limit resulting in death in a pedestrian information zone. Authorities said he was behind the wheel of a 2025 Hyundai that struck a Chrysler Pacifica driven by Buchbaum. Buchbaum was attempting to turn onto southbound Boulder Highway at the time of the 11:33 a.m. crash. Buchbaum was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he died. His wife, Jennifer Boske, was a passenger in the van and was seriously injured. Police said Zwick may have been racing another motorist at the time. Zwick told police he did not recall what happened, and police said he showed no signs of impairment. He had left his job at a local car parts store shortly before the crash. One witness told police he was driving in the area of Boulder Highway and Galleria Drive shortly before the crash when he saw a truck speed past him. The witness also saw a Hyundai pull aside. Police said the witness accounts, video, and physical evidence at the crash scene led them to believe Zwick was speeding and was “possibly engaged in a speed contest with another vehicle.” Zwick, police said, received a citation for following too closely in 2019. In January 2022 he received a citation for “exhibition of power/speed” and having an open container in his vehicle. Later in 2022 he was also cited for speeding 11 to 20 mph over the limit. Buchbaum taught at several schools across Southern Nevada during a career spanning more than two decades. His first position with the district was at Mojave High School in 2003, according to online Nevada Department of Education records. At the time of his death he was a teacher at Cunningham Elementary School, a district spokesperson said.