Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – Two Nevada State Police troopers were struck and killed early Thursday on I-15.
It happened around 3:30am on the D street exit from 15 North, where the officers were responding to a call of a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. Shortly after they arrived on the scene, both were struck by a vehicle that fled the scene
One of the troopers died at the scene, the other at a nearby hospital.
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. 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.
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
Williams made his first court appearance on Friday morning, where a judge set bail at $500,000. He's due back in court on Monday.
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. The closure expanded into the afternoon rush hour on Thursday, with traffic being forced off at Sahara.
I-15 reopened to traffic in the area around 3:45pm, but the D street exit from I-15 North remained closed.