A memorial sits at the site of a fatal collision along Highway 395 just north of Airport Road
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
A bank account has been established to help the family of Fallon Montanucci, who was killed early Saturday morning by a wrong-way driver.
The 22-year-old Douglas High School graduate was home on leave from the U.S. Air Force.
Sister Avalon Montanucci is in critical, but stable condition in the intensive care unit in Reno, according to a family spokeswoman.
An account has been set up in the name of the Montanucci Sisters at El Dorado Savings Bank, 1517 Highway 395, Gardnerville. Donations may be made at any branch of the bank.
Fallon and Avalon were returning from Reno at around 4 a.m. Saturday when they collided with a pickup driving the wrong way north on Highway 395.
"Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of a silver 2020 Ford F-150 pickup was driving wrong way (northbound in the southbound, No. 1 travel lane)," the Nevada State Police said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning. "The front of the Ford struck the front of a silver 2017 Hyundai Accent sedan traveling southbound in the No. 1 travel lane."
The collision occurred about a quarter mile north of the junction with Airport Road.
"The driver of the Ford, having incapacitating injuries, was extricated from the vehicle and transported to an area hospital by Care Flight," according to the statement. "Impairment and speed are suspected factors in this crash."
The Nevada State Police are investigating the collision, but say they suspect impairment. Anyone with information is asked to email ncwmirt@dps.state.nv.us and refer to case No. 220401626.
The name of the pickup driver has not been released.
Fallon was a Douglas County Sheriff’s Explorer who participated in several of the organizations field trips before graduating in 2018.
Avalon played tennis for Douglas High before graduating last year.
The sisters grew up in Gardnerville and are the children of Eddie and Paula Montanucci.
