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Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008 | 6:37 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.
(First posted at 4:15 p.m)
An off-duty Nevada Highway Patrol trooper was one of the drivers in a three-vehicle crash that killed one person and sent two people to a local hospital today, Metro Police investigators said.
Metro investigators at the scene said that a medical problem linked to diabetes may have affected the trooper, Edward Lattin, who is a supervisor for the NHP fatal accident team.
A section of Rainbow Boulevard north of Tropicana Avenue was closed to traffic from 1:30 p.m. until shortly before 6 p.m.
The wreck occurred when a blue pickup truck heading south on Rainbow ran up onto the sidewalk for about 500 feet, then hit the rear of a car also going southbound. The force of the crash sent the car into the path of a northbound pickup truck, police said.
A woman passenger was ejected from the car. She died at the scene, police said.
The driver of the car and the trooper were taken to University Medical Center.
Metro Police Officer Monte Hall said that the trooper volunteered to undergo tests for drugs and alcohol at UMC. The trooper's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The accident is still under investigation by Metro Police.
Has anyone else had enough of this? How senseless and stupid that there are so many traffic crashes around Las Vegas... and around the nation for that matter. I wish the media would stop calling these 'accidents' and call them what they are. Accidents can't be avoided. These are traffic 'crashes' if not outright wrecks. I've lived in Vegas for about 6 months now, and I absolutely love everything about it, except for the drivers. Las Vegas has the worlds worst drivers. On the east coast I used to be one of the fastest cars on the beltway near DC, and on 95 up and down the coast. But here, I am intimidated and downright scared of the rest of the people on the roads. And I wish it were just the freeways. If I had a dime for every car I've seen since I got here in December that ran a red light or stop sign, I'd have enough for a tank of gas. Maybe.
Forgive the rant, but I'm really getting tired of reading about the idiots around here that crash out of life, and more often than not take an innocent bystander with them. How frightening can you get? C'mon Oscar... I challenge you, Metro, and NVHP to crack down on traffic offenses. Please make the roads here safer.
Ok, so I apologize to the guy for slamming the fella before I learned about his medical condition. Those things happen. But my point is still valid. Like about the guy who struck and killed the teacher last week. Impatience and very poor judgement remain the number one killer on the roads. Obviously not the only cause though. My thoughts and sympathies to the families involved in this awful tragedy.
If the guy was off duty what is the significance of pointing out what his 'job' is? So if I get in a wreck will the headline be 'off-duty security guard' involved in accident. I'm not condoning inattentive drivers but it does seem a bit biased to bring up his occupation if this didn't occur during his working shift.
I think the fact that he is a law enforcement official (off or on duty) involved in a fatal accident is "fair" for the media to report. It gives me pause to wonder if this was his first episode or not. Under Nevada law you must report your diabetic condition to the Nevada DMVPS. In some instances you must have a doctor's release to drive. I know this because I am diabetic (type II) and avoid driving as much as possible.