Kurt Hildebrand
A 73-year-old California man was killed Wednesday morning after his pickup crossed the centerline on Highway 395 south of Gardnerville and collided with an oncoming semi.
The Nevada Highway Patrol won't release the victim's name until next of kin have been notified.
The accident occurred at about 11:15 a.m. on Highway 395 near the intersection with Palomino Lane in Ruhenstroth.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Lopez said the driver of the white Ford F-150 pickup was pulling a travel trailer south on Highway 395 when he drifted into the path of the northbound Swift Transportation Corp. semi carrying paper products.
The driver of the semi, identified as Wisconsin resident Aubrey Monroe tried to steer out of the way and appears to have gone over the hood of the pickup.
Monroe hurt his ankle and was treated and released at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Lopez said.
Members of the NHP's Major Accident Investigation Team were at the scene of the collision. Highway 395 was closed south of Palomino Lane for about six hours.
Traffic was diverted onto a frontage road adjacent to the highway's southbound lanes while troopers conducted their investigation and the accident was cleared.
Vehicles were backed up for about a half-mile as they waited to go around the accident.
"Fortunately we had a frontage road to divert traffic," Lopez said.
Witnesses to the event or anyone with additional information are asked to call the Department of Public Safety-Communications Center at (775) 687-0400 regarding case No. NHP 1106080925.
