UPDATE: One dead in Sunday morning wrong way I-580 head-on crash in Washoe Valley
A passenger inside a SUV that was struck head-on by a car going the wrong way on I-580 through Washoe Valley died at the scene early Sunday morning, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. Three other vehicles were involved in secondary crashes in which the victims sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The name of the person who died has not been released. The crash happened at 2:15 a.m. in the northbound lane just south of Bellevue Road in Washoe Valley, said NHP Trooper Dave Gibson.
Crash investigation details indicate a silver 1995 Honda Accord driven by Jackie Contreras, 34, of Carson City was traveling wrong way, southbound, in the northbound travel lanes of I580 with its headlights off when it struck a white 1999 Ford Expedition traveling in the left northbound lane of I580.
The passenger of the Expedition was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Expedition was taken to Renown with critical injuries. The driver of the Honda was transported to Renown with life-threatening injuries.
After the initial crash a vehicle unaware of the event, struck a vehicle that was in the roadway that had stopped to assist (unoccupied). A fifth vehicle then struck one of the vehicles involved in the secondary crash. None of the occupants of the secondary collisions suffered life-threatening injuries.
Alcohol and or drugs are being investigated as a factor in the cause of this accident. It is still unknown if any of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The names of the deceased and injured are being withheld until they are identified and next of kin can be notified.
I580 northbound is two lanes in each direction with a center divided median, it was shut down for several hours while the NHP diagrammed and investigated the crash scene. There is no roadway lighting in this area of I580 and the speed limit is 65 mph.
Trooper Chris Kelly of the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) is investigating this incident. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to reach out to him at (775) 689-4661 or ckelly@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-150601193.