Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Accused driver’s attorney in fatal police crash speaks out

Calvin Darling now scheduled to appear in court on June 8

Updated Monday, May 11, 2009 | 3:20 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Calvin Darling

The attorney representing a man accused in a fatal collision with a Metro Police officer is speaking out today and asking anyone who has information relating to the collision to call with information.

Attorney Sean P. Sullivan said 45-year-old Calvin Darling rushed to assist another officer in an attempt to rescue Officer James Manor, 28, from his patrol car. Darling also tried to extinguish the flames that started after the crash.

Darling was arrested on drunken driving charges after pulling his vehicle in front of Manor, who was responding to a domestic violence call at 1:49 a.m. Thursday when the crash occurred. Manor was pronounced dead at University Medical Center.

"Mr. Darling has no prior criminal record, has been a 36-year resident of Las Vegas, is a property owner within Clark County and has held steady employment in excess of 25 years here in Las Vegas," Sullivan said.

Darling and his family "send their deepest sympathy" to Manor's family for the loss of the officer, Sullivan said.

Darling told police that he had had "three or four" beers after getting off of his job as an engineer at the Bellagio, a police report said.

Darling was turning left onto Ravenwood Drive to go home from West Flamingo Road when he said he saw three vehicles approaching going east on Flamingo. He said he thought he had enough time to cross the road.

"At no time during this crossing of Flamingo Road did Mr. Darling either see or hear any emergency lights or sirens," Sullivan said.

In an interview conducted at the hospital, Darling said to a Metro officer that he had gotten off work about 11 p.m. Wednesday, stopped at a nearby bar and had the "three or four" beers before he began driving toward his home. The police statement said Manor and an officer in another patrol car were eastbound on Flamingo when Darling's pickup truck pulled in front of Manor's patrol car.

The statement said Manor braked and swerved to the right, but could not avoid the collision.

The arrest report states that, "Both of these patrol vehicles were heading eastbound on Flamingo with lights and siren activated and they were both en route to an emergency call when the accident occurred."

Darling was arrested on drunken driving charges and was scheduled for a show-cause hearing Monday, but District Attorney David Roger had not filed any charges against him. He is scheduled in court on June 8.

The law offices of Kelly & Sullivan, Ltd., ask anyone who has information or witnessed the accident to call 385-7270.

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