Former Las Vegas firefighter accused in DUI hit-and-run crash gets plea deal

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — A former Las Vegas firefighter accused of driving under the influence, running a red light, causing a near-fatal crash and running from police has agreed to a plea deal in which he may not be required to serve prison time, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Ryan Nimmo, 31, pleaded guilty to one felony of attempting to leave the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury and one misdemeanor of driving under the influence, according to Sept. 9 court minutes.

The guilty plea agreement, dated Sept. 5, states that prosecutors will not oppose probation, and a 48- to 120-month sentence may be suspended while Nimmo is on probation for three years. Nimmo also agrees to complete a coroner’s program and victim impact panel, have a breath ignition interlock device on all vehicles he has access to, and pay restitution ordered by the court.

Nimmo also faced DUI-related charges in 2015, according to records obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators. He pleaded guilty to failure to maintain lane/improper lane change and the DUI charges were dismissed. He received a misdemeanor sentence that included paying fines, records showed.

Nimmo was arrested on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, after reports of the hit-and-run crash on E. Warm Springs Road near Spencer Street around 11:30 a.m.. Las Vegas Metro police said the crash left a 49-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries.

Nimmo, who was driving a Chevy pickup truck, attempted to leave the scene but crashed into a palm tree, and then attempted to flee on foot, according to police. A witness followed him until police arrived.

The victim was in a Hyundai Elantra, police records showed.

An officer reported there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Nimmo’s breath and his eyes were glossy and watery.

Nimmo was “extremely uncooperative and argumentative,” would not answer any questions officers would ask, told officers several times he was not going to tell them anything, refused to identify himself, and refused standard field sobriety tests, according to police.

Officers said they took Nimmo to the Clark County Detention Center where he was “uncooperative” with corrections officers and a nurse

When officers advised Nimmo they obtained a search warrant for a blood draw, he told them that he would not allow them to draw his blood and that he was going to do everything he could to not let them draw it, police said.

Nimmo was placed into a restraint chair where he aggressively tried to stop them from drawing blood before they could get him under control to obtain two blood draws, according to an arrest report.

Nimmo was a firefighter/paramedic for the city of Las Vegas at the time of the crash. He was hired in October of 2016.

Nimmo “separated” from the city on Oct. 28, 2023, according to a city spokesperson.

Nimmo was released from jail after a $50,000 bond was posted, according to court records. Conditions of his release included high level electronic monitoring, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and staying out of trouble.

Nimmo’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to Nimmo’s attorney, Joshua Tomsheck. He sent the following statement:

“This has been a very difficult process for everyone involved.  Mr. Nimmo accepts full responsibility for his actions and wants nothing more than for the victim and her family to heal and return to their normal lives as they were before these very unfortunate events.  This case was the result of a settlement conference, and involved participation from not only Mr. Nimmo and myself, but also the victim and very skilled prosecutors for the State and a very experienced independent judge.  This case is a testament to the criminal justice system working towards a fair resolution for all involved.  Mr. Nimmo has learned a great deal from this experience and is committed to continuing to be an exemplary member of our community as he always has been, absent the isolation of this one incident.”

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