The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

The Clark County, Nevada Sheriff's Department will be forming a committee to evaluate the department's training and procedures for officers responding to calls after it was revealed that an officer who was recently killed in an accident was traveling at 109mph without lights and sirens at the time of the collision.

The officer hit a pickup truck that was attempting to make a left turn at the time. At the speed the officer was traveling, it is estimated he would have gone the length of a football field in about two seconds, which was too little time to avoid hitting the pickup truck. In addition to speeding without lights and sirens, it was further determined by crash investigators that the officer was not wearing his seatbelt, although it is not known if this contributed to his death since he was not ejected in the auto accident. A second officer was traveling behind the first also without lights and sirens. His speed has not been determined.

The original story is that the two officers were responding to a domestic violence call involving a 14-year-old girl just after midnight earlier this month. As they sped toward the location, a drunk driver pulled out in front of the first officer. Though he tried to swerve out of the way, he hit the pickup and was killed. The driver of the pickup admitted he had been drinking earlier in the day, failed a field sobriety test, and was arrested for driving under the influence and failing to stop for an emergency vehicle. Due to the traumatic nature of the accident and the chaos that often occurs and continues even several hours after the accident, much of this information is incorrect.

Due to the new information that the officer was not traveling with lights and sirens on, it has been reported that the driver of the pickup will likely have the charge of failure to stop for an emergency vehicle dropped. In addition, the driver's blood alcohol content level was .035 an hour after the accident, below the limit of .08. A second test showed his BAC dropping to .021. His attorney has stated this is simply a case of two men meeting at the worst possible time.

The Clark County Sheriff believes it is important that there be transparency throughout this case. While this report shows there were mistakes made by the officers involved in the accident, it also shows the pickup truck driver may have also been a victim and not the guilty party as has been portrayed in the media.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident involving an emergency vehicle, please contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at the Cochran Firm for an initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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