North Las Vegas detective dies after crash with wrong-way driver

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Published Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 | 12:24 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 | 9:23 p.m.

An on-duty North Las Vegas police detective who had been in critical condition after his car was hit by a wrong-way driver Friday afternoon has died, city police announced early today.

Authorities identified the detective as Chad Parque, 32. He had been with the police department for 10 years.

"He was a great husband, father, brother, and investigator," North Las Vegas police said in a news release. "He will be deeply missed by many."

A donation fund to assist Parque's family has been established, police said. Contributions can be made in accounts at Nevada State Bank #905202081 and Wells Fargo #8754899923.

About 2 p.m. Friday, Parque, who was in a department vehicle, had just exited the North Las Vegas Justice Court, 2428 Martin Luther King Blvd. and was heading north near Carey Avenue when he was struck by a 2010 Nissan Versa heading in the wrong direction, police said.

A pickup truck then also struck Parque's back passenger door, police said.

Parque and the driver of the Versa, a 62-year-old woman, were taken to University Medical Center, police said. The woman suffered serious injuries and has been stabilized.

"After a strong fight for his life, and the great efforts from the medical staff at UMC Trauma to preserve him, Detective Parque succumbed to his injuries early this morning," police said this afternoon.

The driver and passenger of the pickup were not injured, police said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the woman to drive in the wrong direction or exactly when she entered the northbound lanes, police said.

“We are still asking for the prayers across the valley from people for his condition to improve,” spokesman officer Aaron Patty had said before the detective died. “As a department as a whole, this is near and dear to all of us...”.

Elected officials and Southern Nevada law enforcement agencies have taken to Twitter to share their condolences with the North Las Vegas police department.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said on the platform: "I am deeply saddened....My sincere condolences to the detective's family, friends and the @NLVPD."

U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen shared the following message on Twitter: "My condolences and prayers for the officer who passed after being involved in an accident in @CNLV, his family and his @NLVPD colleagues. #RIP."

"His passing is very sad. The spirit of love and prayers was felt at the hospital yesterday," North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee tweeted today. "Please, keep his family and our police department in your prayers."

A candlelight vigil will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Martin Luther King and Carey, Metro Police said. Memorial and funeral services will be announced at a later time, police said. More information on the Injured Police Officer's Fund could be found at ipof.vegas.

Parque is the first North Las Vegas officer killed in the line of duty since 1995, and the third in the department's history, according to the Injured Police Officer's Fund and the Officer Down Memorial Page organization, which track on-duty police deaths.

Officer Raul Elizondo died on Jan. 30, 1995, after a suspect he was trying to arrest took Elizondo's gun and shot him. The suspect then committed suicide.

Officer James Slagle was killed in a car accident on Nov. 30, 1973, as he was in pursuit of three robbery suspects near Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Street.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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