Two Nevada State Troopers tragically lost their lives on Thursday morning in Las Vegas while assisting a motorist on a freeway. The incident occurred when a drunken driver struck them as they were aiding another driver near the Spaghetti Bowl area off Interstate 15. The troopers, identified as Sergeant Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix, had stopped at around 3:23 a.m. to check on a driver who appeared to be sleeping in his car. However, a white Chevrolet HHR collided with their patrol car and then fled the scene. Sadly, one trooper died at the scene, while the other passed away at the UMC Trauma Hospital.
The suspect responsible for this tragic incident, 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams, was later arrested by Las Vegas police. Williams has been charged with multiple counts, including reckless driving resulting in death, driving under the influence resulting in death, and duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death. The car involved in the collision was found unoccupied in an apartment complex hours after the incident.
Sergeant Abbate, who joined the Nevada State Police in December 2013 and was recently promoted to sergeant, and Trooper Felix, who joined NSP in January 2019 after serving in the United States Air Force, dedicated their careers to serving the State of Nevada with exceptional commitment and pride. The Nevada State Police expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the fallen troopers, requesting privacy during this difficult time.
The Las Vegas police department also paid tribute to the fallen troopers, expressing their devastation and offering thoughts and prayers to the families. In a solemn video, officers can be seen escorting the flag-draped caskets of Abbate and Felix, with fellow officers standing at attention and saluting.
The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing and is being led by the Las Vegas police’s Homicide Section. The loss of these two dedicated troopers serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face while protecting and serving their communities.
