Illinois woman identified in crash that killed South Lake Tahoe police officer, wife and injured 4 children
The Nevada Highway Patrol continues its investigation into Saturday's deadly single vehicle rollover on Highway 50 in Churchill County that killed a South Lake Tahoe police officer, his wife, a family friend from Illinois. Four children were also injured.
The crash killed Mark Hounsell, a South Lake Tahoe police officer, his wife Jeanne Hounsell, and family friend Laura Fisher of Washington, Illinois.
According to NHP, troopers were dispatched at 4:55 p.m. to a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 50 at mile post 54 in Churchill County.
The crash investigation details indicate that a white 2004 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Mark Hounsell was traveling westbound on Highway 50. For unknown reasons, the driver allowed the vehicle to drift off the road and overcorrected causing the vehicle to overturn several times, according to NHP. It is believed that the driver and all other occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Mark Hounsell, Jeanne Hounsell and Laura Fisher died on scene. All four children taken to hospitals with serious injuries.
The eastbound travel lane of Highway 50 was shut down for several hours while the crash scene was investigated. NHP notes The area of Highway 50 is one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 70 mph.
Impairment at the time of crash is not suspected.
Trooper Karen Garretson 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 her at (775) 689-4625 or kgarreston@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-151001600.