Officers in fatal crash responding to non-emergency call

By Mary Manning

Published Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 | 9:59 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 | 4 p.m.

Metro Police said today that two officers involved in a fatal crash Wednesday night weren't responding to an emergency call when their police cruiser crashed into a light pole.

Officer John Loretto said during a City Hall news conference that the officers were investigating a report of a strong odor for about 20 minutes before the crash occurred. Clark County Sheriff Douglas Gillespie described the call as not urgent.

Gillespie said investigators haven't determined whether the cruiser had its emergency lights and sirens activated, but that wouldn't be required because the call didn't originate from 911.

Investigators today were still trying to determine what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle at about 9 p.m. at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. Police weren't identifying which officer was behind the wheel.

"But there was one thing we do know -- there was one car involved in the accident and it was our car," Gillespie said during the news conference.

Authorities said Officer Milburn “Millie” Beitel, 30, died at about 1:30 a.m. today after surgery at University Medical Center.

A second officer, who is 25 years old and has been with Metro for more than three years, is in critical condition at UMC, police said. His name hasn't been released.

Metro's Accident Investigation Team remained at the scene this morning and the intersection of Washington Avenue and Nellis Boulevard was still closed to traffic during the mid-morning, but was later reopened.

"They both received some very serious injuries," Gillespie said Wednesday night. "Right now, a lot of prayers are needed."

Before Beitel's death, Gillespie said the officer was "in very bad shape." Gillespie, who went to the hospital, said both officers had been with their families.

Gillespie said Beitel has no children and his parents were en route to Las Vegas from out of state.

Police said they don't know how fast the vehicle was traveling when the crash occurred. The posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph.

Douglas Sherman, owner of Boomerang Auto Works on Nellis Boulevard, said he was working late last night when he heard police sirens and a helicopter. He said he walked outside and saw the police car turned sideways.

The police cruiser was traveling on Nellis, about to cross Washington, when another vehicle pulled out, a witness told Wednesday night. The patrol car swerved and might have hit a pole before flipping over and bursting into flames, police said Wednesday.

Today, business owners and residents watched as the crumpled police car was towed away. Ashes and debris were scattered across the road where firefighters tried to put out the fire.

At least 25 Metro officers and Las Vegas Fire Department rescue crews responded to the scene late Wednesday.

Nearby resident Sharyn Mousseau said vehicle collisions are common in the intersection. Resident Michelle Shappie said another wreck had occurred yesterday morning on Nellis Boulevard.

The northeast valley was the target of a saturation enforcement effort in which police beef up patrols in high-risk traffic areas.

Metro traffic officers blocked off the area while police investigated.

It has been six months since another Metro officer, James Manor, was involved in a crash on West Flamingo Road that took his life. Manor was answering a domestic disturbance call when he collided with a pickup truck that was making a left turn. An investigation showed Manor had been driving 109 mph without his emergency lights or sirens activated.

"It was six months ago when I stood before you," Gillespie said, acknowledging the earlier crash. "Now here I stand before you again."

He said during the Thursday news conference that Metro has taken a "hard" look at police procedures since Manor died.

He urged the public and the media to have patience as the investigation continues.

Sun reporter Tiffany Gibson contributed to this report.