Collisions reminder to be careful

With the Memorial Day weekend underway, Nevada State Police are encouraging motorists to report reckless drivers.

“With the alarming number of recent fatal crashes in Northern Nevada alone, the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol is asking drivers to call in reckless drivers,” officials said. 

Drivers who observe unsafe or reckless driving behavior are encouraged to dial *NHP on their smartphones or simply call 911. They ask that callers include the location, direction of travel, a vehicle description, and if possible, a description of the driver.

“These actions save lives, according to the state.

A fifth traffic fatality over the course of a month and a day occurred in Minden on Tuesday evening — the same number that happened in Douglas County during all of 2021.

According to the Nevada State Police Trooper Charles Caster, a motorcyclist was riding a Kawasaki Ninja when he went off the road and hit two trees.

The collision, reported at around 8:30 p.m. occurred at Bently Parkway and Orchard Road.

Trooper Charles Caster said that speed and impairment were suspected.

Troopers and partnering agencies’ will continue increased seatbelt enforcement over the Memorial Day weekend. 

On Wednesday, the identity of a Markleeville woman who was killed in a May 15 collision on Highway 88 was identified by the Nevada State Police. 

Genie Kelly Baruh, 62, was southbound in a 2014 Ford Escape about three miles from the state line behind a Hyundai Sonata. According to the initial investigation, she stepped on the brakes and skidded into the back of the Hyundai.

It then entered the dirt, ran through a fence and overturned into the West Fork of the Carson River.

When they arrived on scene, rescuers went into the water and she was transported to Carson Valley Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased.

This crash is being investigated by the Highway Patrol Division’s Northern Command West Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team - Case No. 220501001. Anyone with information about this crash, is asked to email to ncwmirt@dps.state.nv.us and reference the case number. 

Since the April 23 wrong-way crash that claimed the life of Fallon Montanucci, there have been four other deadly crashes in Douglas County, and one Douglas resident killed in a Lyon County crash.

• Minden resident Jason Clarkson, 43, was killed on May 8 when he was ejected from his Ford Explorer after it went off Highway 395 in Spring Valley south of Gardnerville.

• Baruh, 62, was killed on May 15 when her Ford Escape rolled into the Carson River’s West Fork from Highway 88.

• The identity of a man killed in a May 21 single-vehicle rollover on Old Highway 50 at Glenbrook has yet to be officially released.