Funeral planned for Las Vegas detective killed in crash

A fundraiser to benefit the family of a Las Vegas police detective killed in a traffic crash last week raised thousands of dollars over the weekend as investigators continued to probe how the bizarre tragedy occurred.

Justin Terry, 45, was driving his unmarked police vehicle on U.S. Highway 95 near the 215 Beltway when a steel beam fell onto the vehicle in a construction zone.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said a semitrailer hauling an excavator with an oversized load struck the beam, causing it to fall. Terry died at the scene.

This weekend, the Injured Police Officers Fund’s Las Vegas chapter started a fundraiser for Terry by selling metal bracelets with his name, date of death and the letters “E.O.W.” for “end of watch.”

“We got in the initial order today, and we’ve already sold all of them — 250 sold out in one day,” said Neil Sackmary, owner of Nevada Coin Mart, which is helping with the fundraiser.

“We have to do everything we can to support the families of the fallen officers,” he added. “It’s very, very important.”

An investigation into the crash, meanwhile, was focused on whether the semitrailer was properly permitted to carry an oversized load through the area of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Centennial Bowl construction project connecting U.S. 95 with the Beltway.

Investigators also were trying to determine whether the beam was properly installed as part of a low clearance highway warning system.

The large steal beam is perched 15 feet above the highway and alerts drivers to low clearances due to bridge construction ahead, according to transportation department spokesman Justin Hopkins.

“This sort of beam is in place any time we are doing bridge construction,” Hopkins said Monday. “It is a final stop, if you will, before the actual construction of the bridge.”

Hopkins said the beam is in place “to stop or slow down any vehicle that might be oversized.”

“It is engineered to be hit by a 10-ton vehicle going 65 miles per hour and not come down,” Hopkins said.

The warning system was erected by Centennial Bowl project contractor Las Vegas Paving, Hopkins said.

Las Vegas Paving issued a statement saying it played no role in the fatality.

“This accident did not involve any Las Vegas Paving Corporation personnel or equipment,” the statement said. “Due to the fact that a fatality occurred and this is an ongoing investigation by the authorities, Las Vegas Paving Corporation has no further comment at this time. Las Vegas Paving extends its condolences to the officer’s family, friends and co-workers.”

The Nevada Highway Patrol did not respond to requests for comment Monday on the status of the investigation.

The Injured Police Officers Fund said that in addition to purchasing the bracelets, people may make donations to Terry’s family through a fund in Terry’s name.

“Our goal, our mission, is to reduce the financial burden that the family might have during these difficult times,” the fund’s president, Chelsea Stuenkel, said. “We want the family to know, the community to know, that we are there helping with fundraising so they can focus on trying to heal.

“We don’t want them stressing about bills or who is going to pay for the funeral. Who is going to pay for getting family out here? Our goal is to reduce that stress from the family so they can worry about the important things and not about the financial aspect.”

Police said Terry, who joined the force in 2001, was assigned to the homicide sex crimes bureau, sexual assault and abuse section. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

A funeral for Terry is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 20 at Henderson’s Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive, according to an online obituary posted by Dignity Memorial.

On Tuesday, police also announced a pair of viewings and a procession offering members of the public an opportunity to pay their respects to Terry.

Police said the viewings will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Palm Cheyenne Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

In addition, at 8:30 a.m. on June 20, a police procession will escort Terry’s casket and his family from Palm Mortuary on North Main Street to the 10 a.m. memorial service.

The procession will start on Main Street, head south to Washington Avenue and then head west to Interstate 15. It will exit east on Sahara Avenue, head south on Las Vegas Boulevard South, and travel to the 215 Beltway. The procession then will make its way north on U.S. Highway 95 before exiting east on Russell Road.

Motorists in each area should expect delays until about 9:30 a.m.

Contact Glenn Puit by email at gpuit@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter.