LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A state employee suspected of being under the influence was sent home from work and then crashed and died, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
An internal investigation was underway at the Nevada Department of Corrections after Miles Collins, 38, died in the single-vehicle crash on July 2, the 8 News Now Investigators confirmed.
According to internal documents reviewed by the 8 News Now Investigators, at least one employee noted Collins was slurring his speech. Collins had MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine and THC in his system when he died, according to the Clark County coroner.
Collins was an HVACR specialist at Southern Desert Correctional Center. The medium-security prison is located near Indian Springs — an approximate 45-minute drive north of Las Vegas.
Collins was suspected of being under the influence while at work around 6:30 a.m., his supervisor was notified, he was driven to a Concentra in Las Vegas for a test, and driven back to the prison, according to a report obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators.
Collins left the prison in his Toyota Tundra around 10:30 a.m., the crash occurred in the southbound lanes of US-95, and Collins was pronounced dead by 11:16 a.m., a report stated.
“For unknown reasons, he left the roadway, the truck rolled, he was ejected and came to a stop in a desert area by the roadway,” according to a report.
The coroner ruled Collins’ death an accident and determined the cause to be blunt force trauma to the head and torso.
More than three months after the deadly crash, it remained unclear why Collins was allowed to drive home from the state prison in his condition.
A July 2023 manual, “State of Nevada Alcohol and Drug Program for State of Nevada Executive Branch Agencies,” addresses situations similar to the incident with Collins.
“Once the employee has completed all required testing, it is the appointing authority’s responsibility to make sure the employee is transported home,” according to the manual. “Typically, law enforcement will not be able to assist with this final step.”
The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to the Department of Corrections. In an Oct. 17 email, a spokesperson wrote the department is unable to comment because it is considered a personnel matter.
Collins was hired in April 2017, a spokesperson said in a previous email.
8 News Now Investigator Vanessa Murphy can be reached at vmurphy@8newsnow.com.
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