US District Judge Larry Hicks killed in car crash in Nevada court

U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks was struck and killed by a car outside federal court in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. He was 80 years old.

Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001, Hicks has had a long and successful legal career that began with his appointment as a prosecutor in the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office in 1968. He served as a senior district judge and had an active caseload since 2013.

Police said the driver, whose identity has not yet been released, remained at the scene of the accident and is cooperating with the investigation, NBC affiliate KRNV reported in Reno. Reno police were called to the scene of the accident at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Hicks was taken to a local hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

Hicks’ son Chris Hicks, the current district attorney of Washoe County, was among the local officials who paid their respects.

“Today our community lost an extraordinary man. Judge Larry Hicks was a deeply admired lawyer and judge, a devoted friend, mentor and a dedicated servant of justice,” he said in a statement.

He continued: “For us, he was first and foremost a man who put family first. He was a hero in every way, a loving husband for nearly 59 years, a loving father, a devoted dad and brother. His loss is unfathomable.”

In a statement on behalf of the Reno Police Department, the Reno Police Chief said Hicks’ death was a tragedy that “will leave a lasting mark on our lives,” while Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said his “legacy will forever be remembered in Washoe County.”