NDOT road worker seriously injured in Highway 50 crash near Fallon
Seven people were injured, including a state department of transportation road worker in a crash Wednesday morning west of Fallon on Highway 50 in Churchill County, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports.
Nevada Department of Transportation employee Michael D. Spanier of Hawthorne, who was walking along the road in a work zone when he was hit, sustained serious injuries in the crash, reported at around 9:25 a.m. He was taken by Care Flight to Renown Medical Center in Reno. The six other motorists involved had injuries that ranged from nearly none to minor in nature and were treated and released, said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen.
The section of the four-lane highway in this area was reduced to one lane of travel in each direction, and the posted speed limit was reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 mph, as this was an active work zone where NDOT personnel were resealing the surface of the highway. Several employees were operating equipment while others were performing highway maintenance and repair-related duties on foot.
The sequence of Wednesday's crash happened when the driver of a white 2002 Toyota Camry 4-door sedan, 88-year-old Belle C. Currie of Fallon, attempted to turn south onto Sheckler Road from the westbound travel lane, said Allen. Ms. Currie failed to observe a silver 2012 Nissan Armada traveling east on Highway 50 driven by 34-year-old Jamie L. Sweetser of Fernley. Sweetser had her 3 young children and another family member riding in the SUV with her. The front of the Toyota struck the left side of the Nissan causing the SUV to rollover onto its roof.
Moments after the vehicles collided, and while both were still in motion, is when NDOT employee Spanier was struck. He had been walking while performing roadway maintenance and sustained very serious injuries in the event, Allen said.
All seven were transported to Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon by ground ambulance. After his medical evaluation at the Fallon hospital, Spanier was airlifted.
The Major Accident Investigation Team was dispatched to investigate the accident. Witnesses or anyone with additional information are encouraged to contact Trooper Chris Kelly at (775) 689-4661 or at ckelly@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-130801203. Once the investigation is completed, which may take 30 or more days, any and all traffic-related charges will be filed at that time.
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