An incident on a Las Vegas freeway resulted in the deaths of two Nevada State Police Troopers, following a hit-and-run while they were conducting a welfare check. The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

The officers involved, Sergeant Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix, were investigating a motorist who seemed to be sleeping in their vehicle on the freeway’s northbound side. During this check, a white Chevrolet HHR struck them and subsequently fled the scene.

Radio transmissions after the incident revealed the frantic efforts of their colleagues to locate Abbate and Felix. These transmissions were characterized by confusion and a heightened sense of urgency.

One of the troopers was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other later died in a hospital due to injuries sustained. 

After the incident, law enforcement apprehended 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams at an apartment complex at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and J Street. Williams is now held at the Clark County Detention Center, facing charges including reckless driving and DUI causing death, as well as failure to stop after an accident resulting in death.

At a hearing on Friday, December 1, prosecutors said that before the accident Williams had been drinking heavily in a casino and had to be escorted out by security. He was warned that police would be called if he drove his car and he walked away, making security think he would comply. When they left, though, he got into his vehicle and drove away. Bail has been set at $500,000 for Williams.

Sergeant Abbate, who joined the department in December 2013, had recently been promoted to sergeant. Trooper Felix, who served in the United States Air Force, became a state trooper in 2019. Their deaths were mourned by Governor Joe Lombardo, who expressed his deep sadness and ordered all U.S. flags in Nevada to be flown at half-staff until the funerals of the deceased troopers.