Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper takes photos of an accident that killed three people on Highway 395 south of Gardnerville on Saturday afternoon. One other person was flown to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
Three people are dead and another was taken by helicopter following a two-car accident that closed Highway 395 south of Gardnerville for nearly an hour Saturday afternoon.
The accident occurred just before 3 p.m. a quarter-mile south of Leviathan Mine Road. According to Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Clark, a Dodge truck with three occupants was traveling southbound when it veered off roadway, overcorrected, and entered the northbound travel lanes.
The truck collided with a Suzuki SUV being driven by Dawn Miley, 43, of Gardnerville, that was traveling northbound, Clark said. The truck overturned and came to rest in the shoulder of the northbound lanes. The driver of the truck, a man in his 30s, and two females, ages unknown, were pronounced dead at the scene, Clark said.
Miley was taken by Care Flight to Renown Regional Medical Center with head injuries. Her condition was unknown at press time.
According to Clark, several witnesses reported the truck was driving erratically before the accident; however, investigators had not been able to confirm that information.
Clark said there were no obvious signs that alcohol was a factor in the accident, but that both drivers would be tested.
The accident closed the highway for approximately 50 minutes, backing up traffic for miles in both directions.
The names of the three victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.