KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasHit Head-On, Metro Officer Sustains Critical Injuries

Hit Head-On, Metro Officer Sustains Critical Injuries

A Metro officer is in critical condition after he was hit head-on by a speeding driver.

The high speed, head-on crash early Friday morning took the life of one person and critically injured 28-year-old Metro Officer Dustin Ciecalone.  

Click here to read metro's news release on the accident.

Police say the other driver lost control and hit Ciecalone's car. The police officer involved in the accident was transported to University Medical Center in critical condition.

Metro initially said two cars were racing northbound on Decatur near W. Tropicana.  But after further investigation, police investigators backed away from those claims, saying they aren't sure if racing was a factor in the accident.           

What they do know is that the driver of a silver Pontiac lost control, jumped the center median, and drove into oncoming traffic colliding head on with the undercover officer driving a Checker Cab. 

The driver of the second car involved in the street race took off after the accident. 

When emergency crews arrived, the officer was trapped in his vehicle and fire crews had to extricate him from the vehicle.

Another undercover police officer, who was also at the scene, says the car that took off is a red Pontiac. They are actively searching for the driver.        

Right now, Metro's thoughts are focused on the officer at the hospital.

Sgt. Tracy McDonald said, "Numerous staff at UMC trying to save his life. Injury's substantial, concerned if he'll survive this accident."

Investigators say it's too early to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.

Officer Dustin Ciecalone is a nine-year veteran of the force.    

Send feedback to Reporter Tom Ellingson at tellingson@klastv.com