Man who drove SUV into Metro vehicle, injuring two officers, suspected of DUI

The man who plowed his sport utility vehicle into a Las Vegas police vehicle Wednesday evening is facing charges.

At 6:20 p.m., an unmarked Metropolitan Police Department patrol vehicle carrying two officers was traveling south on Sandy Lane, near East Carey Avenue and North Pecos Road, traffic Sgt. Paul McCullough said.

At the intersection of Sandy Lane and San Antonio Avenue, a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a suspected drunken driver ran a stop sign and “T-boned” the driver’s side of the Metro vehicle, McCullough said.

Police later identified the Tahoe driver as 35-year-old David Olivas of North Las Vegas.

The Chevrolet pushed the Metro car off the road, causing significant impact to the driver’s side. As the officer on the passenger side exited the vehicle, the Tahoe’s driver ran away down San Antonio Avenue with his 3-year-old child in his arms, police said.

The officer chased the man and was able to detain him.

Both officers were taken to University Medical Center’s trauma unit shortly afterward. The officer driving suffered broken ribs in the crash, but both officers were “in good condition” as of 9 p.m. and expected to be released before the end of the night.

“Fortunately for us, this collision didn’t end in a worse manner,” McCullough said.

The Tahoe driver and the young child were uninjured. Police said the driver was taken into custody and accused of hit and run. Olivas is being booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He showed signs of impairment was arrested on charges of DUI and child endangerment, police later said in a release.

The little girl was left in her mother’s custody, police said.

Review-Journal reporters Rachel Crosby and Mike Shoro contributed to this story. Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter.