An LPD officers was driving in a marked cruiser eastbound on K Street near 16th Street around 1:30 Saturday morning and stopped at a red light. A 2010 red Ford Explorer was in the middle lane next to the officer. When the light turned green, both vehicles entered the intersection when a 1998 Honda Accord ran the red light and hit the SUV. The SUV was then pushed into the side of the LPD cruiser.
The Honda then hit a building owned by the State of Nebraska at 500 S 16th Street causing around $500 in damage.
The officer was able to get out of the cruiser and approached the driver of the Honda who was trying to leave the scene of the accident. The officer also noticed the man was showing signs of impairment and took him into custody. 34 year old Reagan Nsimbani resisted the officer and refused to get into the cruiser. Another officer arrived at the scene and were able to get him into the back of the cruiser after a lengthy struggle. The driver refused to identify himself and did not have a driver’s license. Nsimbani was taken to a hospital to be checked out. He refused to submit to tests to determine the level of alcohol in his system. Officers then got a search warrant to conduct a blood draw but he still resisted.
The driver of the SUV and a passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries that did not require treatment at a hospital. The officer was taken to a hospital by another officer and she was treated and released for a head injury.
Witnesses reported that the Honda was seen driving recklessly at a high rate of speed before the accident at 16th and K.
Nsimbani was medically cleared and then taken jail. He was booked for leaving the scene of an injury accident, DUI – 1st offense, refusal of a chemical test, contempt of court, refuse preliminary breath test, resisting arrest, willful reckless driving and no driver’s license.
Damage to the Honda and the Ford are both total losses. The police cruiser has an estimated $7,000 in damage.