Two Nevada State Police troopers who were struck by a vehicle and killed on Interstate 15 in Las Vegas Thursday have been identified and the driver accused of hitting them has been charged with DUI.

Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix were fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver while they assisted a motorist who had pulled off to the side of the freeway and fallen asleep at the wheel early Thursday morning, the Las Vegas Sun reports.

Trooper Alberto Felix was an Air Force veteran who joined the Nevada State Police in 2019.

Credit:

Nevada State Police

The suspect, later identified by authorities as Jemarcus Williams, was booked at the Clark County Detention Center on two counts each of reckless driving resulting in death, DUI resulting in death and “duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death,” police said.

Felix, a veteran of the United States Air Force, had been with state police since 2019, the department said. Abbate had been with the department since 2013 and in November was promoted to sergeant, officials said.