A Navajo Nation police officer is accused of hitting an SUV, bicyclist and a Glendale officer’s patrol car.
Police were called to the scene near 59t and Glendale avenues early Friday morning after an officer saw a driver sideswipe an SUV.
The driver, later identified as 30-year-old Kevin Hevel, then continued on and struck and killed bicyclist 50year-old Peter Rankin.
Havel then ran a red light and hit the back of a Glendale police patrol car.
Hevel was booked on charges of manslaughter, felony endangerment, driving under the influence and failure to stay at the scene of a crash.
The officer and a civilian who were in the police car were treated for injuries but are said to be OK.
Havel has been a member of the Navajo Nation Police Department since November 2007. He was attending a police-related training event in Paradise Valley when the deadly crash occurred.
According to Navajo Nation Police Chief Phillip Francisco, Hevel is in good standing with the department and wasn’t known to have issues with alcohol.
The Glendale Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident.
