Incline jogger killed in hit-and-run

An Incline Village man was killed while jogging Tuesday morning in an apparent hit-and-run accident on the Mount Rose Highway

Joe Borgerding, 62, engineering manager for the Incline Village General Improvement District, was found about 6:45 a.m. by a Nevada Department of Transportation crew member.

Borgerding's body was lying on Mount Rose Highway near its intersection with McCourry Boulevard. He was wearing a grey sweat shirt, black athletic pants and white tennis shoes.

The accident occurred between 6:20 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., according to Chuck Allen of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Borgerding was jogging about 6 feet from the fog line, well onto the paved asphalt shoulder, when he was struck. A friend told investigators he saw Borgerding jogging the morning he was killed. It was confirmed that he jogged that route every day.

Investigators have recovered evidence at the scene of the accident that indicates the driver who hit Borgerding was driving a 1994 to 1998 General Motors or Chevy pickup truck or SUV. Pieces of a headlamp, an amber marker lamp and a small piece of the black rubber air damn, plus serial and part numbers indicate a vehicle such as a Tahoe, Blazer or a Suburban, according to the NHP report.

"There is significant new front-end damage to the passenger side of the vehicle," said Sgt. Bill Devine of the Washoe County sheriff's substation. "We don't have a vehicle color."

Improvement District General Manager Bill Horn said he delivered the sad news to most of Borgerding's engineering team first thing in the morning.

"The grief was overwhelming. They were all stunned and at the same time wanted to rally around the family and the public works team."

Dan St. John, engineer and assistant general manager, said Borgerding was one of the most physically fit people working for the district.

"He loved exercise, the outdoors and Tahoe," St. John said. "Not only was he the consummate sportsman but he was a wonderful person to work with - he was always a gentleman, always optimistic, always friendly. We will always feel his loss."

"The entire IVGID community is shocked at this tremendous loss," St. John added.

Borgerding had come back to work for the district in January 2001, according to St. John. He had previously worked with the district for two years in the late 1980s, he added.

St. John said Borgerding and his wife, Barbara, have been active members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Officials are encouraging anyone who might have seen the accident or who know anything related to it to call the NHP at (775) 688-2500 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. North Shore residents may also call the sheriff's substation at (775) 832-4110. The Nevada Department of Public Safety is using all of its available resources to locate the driver.

Members of the community representing the Borgerding family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Catholic Service Appeal Drive at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.