Man, 8-year-old daughter killed in Mound House collision

A man and his 8-year-old daughter were killed after a Friday afternoon three-vehicle accident on Highway 50 East at Kit Kat Drive in Mound House.

According to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Lopez, a preliminary investigation into the 3:54 p.m. collision shows that a white Honda Accord driven by David James Melendrez, a 30-year-old Carson City man, was westbound with his two children in the vehicle - a 3-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl.

For unknown reasons, the Honda drifted into the eastbound travel lanes striking a white Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Debra Dipino, a 57-year-old Mound House resident who sustained only minor injuries.

The Honda then continued in the eastbound lanes striking a black GMC driven by Daniel Jones, a 67-year-old California resident, who also sustained only minor injuries.

Melendrez was pronounced dead at the scene. The two juveniles were transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno via Care Flight helicopter with life-threatening injuries. The girl died at 2:08 a.m. The condition of the boy is unknown at this time.

The names of the children have not been released.

The collision blocked all four lanes and diverted traffic well into the evening. No other information was available at the time. The collision remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call the NHP at 775-687-0400.