Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – Two Nevada State Police troopers were struck and killed early Thursday on I-15 just north of the Spaghetti Bowl.
It happened around 3:30am on the D street exit from 15 North, where the officers were called to reports of a person who was asleep at the wheel. Shortly after arriving on scene the pair were struck, with the vehicle fleeing the scene.
One of the officers died at the scene, the other shortly after being taken to University Medical Center.
Thursday night, the identities of the two troopers were released. Sergeant Michael Abbate joined the department in December 2013 and was recently promoted to Sergeant earlier this month. Trooper Alberto Felix became a part of the department in January 2019. Before his service with the Highway Patrol, Trooper Felix honorably served in the United States Air Force.
Investigators shut down a stretch of 15 North from Charleston to Washington, as well as the ramps from 95 to 15 North and D Street between Washington and Bonanza to conduct their investigation.
Around 8am, Las Vegas Metro Police investigators found a vehicle matching the description of the one that fled near Monroe and H Street and surrounded a nearby apartment complex. They arrested 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams at his residence without incident. Williams faces multiple charges including DUI above the legal limit resulting in death
I-15 North reopened between Sahara and Washington around 3:45, but the D Street exit remained closed.