Colton Pulsipher Obituary, Death – A wrong-way crash on Interstate 15 northeast of Las Vegas early Thursday morning claimed the lives of two people, including an off-duty police officer, and left another injured. The crash led to the closure of all northbound lanes in the area, with authorities investigating the cause of the fatal collision.
The Nevada State Police reported the crash at approximately 12:26 a.m. near mile marker 78, roughly 25 miles north of the Speedway Boulevard exit. According to Trooper Shawn Haggstrom, a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lanes collided with at least one other vehicle.
Two men were pronounced dead at the scene. Among them was 29-year-old Colton Pulsipher, an off-duty officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Pulsipher worked in the traffic bureau’s Tourist Safety Division and was on his way home after completing his shift.
LVMPD confirmed that Pulsipher was in his private vehicle when the wrong-way driver struck him. He is survived by his wife and three young children.
A woman involved in the crash sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital via Mercy Air.
As of Thursday morning, all northbound lanes of I-15 at the U.S. 93 junction remained closed, and there was no immediate timeline for reopening. Authorities suggested drivers heading north use U.S. 93 as a detour and reconnect to the interstate via State Route 168.
The crash highlights ongoing concerns about wrong-way driving incidents, which often result in severe injuries or fatalities. Investigators are working to determine the events leading up to this tragic accident.