Man killed in crash with semi on U.S. 95 in Nye County identified
LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — One person is dead after a vehicle collision with a semi-truck Sunday afternoon on U.S. 95 in Nye County.
The victim was identified by the Nevada Highway Patrol as 20-year-old Bryan Gonzalez of Pahrump. His official cause of death is still pending from the Nye County Coroner.
According to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Buratczuk, the crash happened around 3:29 p.m. on U.S. 95 near mile marker 7 in Nye County.
A semi-truck hauling wood product was traveling northbound on U.S. 95, while a Mitsubishi was traveling southbound.
According to witnesses, for unknown reasons, the car crossed the center line and swerved into the path of the semi, causing a head-on collision.
The driver of the car -- and sole occupant of the Mitsubishi -- was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene.
The semi then continued north where it entered the right dirt shoulder and overturned, causing the diesel tanks to be breached. The semi then caught fire and diesel spilled onto the freeway.
The male driver of the semi was transported to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump with non-life threatening injuries.
All travel lanes on U.S. 95 near mile marker 7 were closed for the investigation and diesel clean-up.
According to Buratczuk, depending on their direction of travel, motorists were diverted to Pahrump State Route 160 or to Mercury.
This marks the 61st fatal crash in NHP - Southern Command's jurisdiction in 2016, resulting in 70 fatalities for the year.
