California man dies in Mineral County accident

A California man was killed Wednesday in a two-car accident near the northern tip of Walker Lake on Highway 95.

The accident occurred at 5:10 p.m. 25 miles north of Hawthorne, Trooper Chuck Allen of the Nevada Highway Patrol said Thursday.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a green Fork minivan was being followed north by a Chevrolet Trailblazer on the highway when the Trailblazer tried to pass the van in the passing zone. As the Trailblazer was parallel with the minivan, it then entered the southbound lane, striking the Trailblazer.

The driver of the Trailblazer lost control of the vehicle and it left the road and overturned. The right front passenger in the Trailblazer, Clifford L. Gould, 66, of Happy Camp, Calif., was killed. The driver, 61-year-old Donna E. Gould, and two of her young grandchildren, sustained head injuries and were helicoptered to Renown Regional Medical Center.

All the Trailblazer's passengers were wearing seatbelts. The driver of the minivan, 61-year-old Edward Jackson of Hawthorne and his three passengers weren't injured.

The southbound lane of Highway 95 was blocked for several hour as a result of the accident.

Witnesses, or anyone with additional information, is encouraged to call Trooper Eric Gallagher at (775) 689-4661 regarding case number NHP-0906031558.