Accident stops traffic on main Carson artery

A gold Nissan Murano with the Nevada license plate "BRN2RDE" careened at alleged high speeds northbound on South Carson Street at 1:13 p.m. Tuesday, clipping two cars at Clearview Drive and causing a six-car, multiple-injury accident before coming to a stop in front of the Southgate Shopping Center.

Three lanes of northbound traffic were temporarily halted. One lane was opened and monitored by NHP officers by 1:30 p.m., but the intersection wasn't fully opened until more than three hours later.

The driver of the Murano, a male, was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Two accident victims, the driver of a Ford Explorer and the driver of a Chevy van, were taken by Care Flight to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno with serious injuries. By Tuesday evening, their condition was reported as stable. One other was taken by ambulance to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center with minor-to-moderate injuries.

"In our preliminary investigation, the Nissan was in the northbound lane and hit the Explorer, who went off to the (right) shoulder and struck three vehicles," said NHP trooper Nick Nordyke. "The Nissan continued on to clip a blue Buick before coming to a halt.

"There are multiple unknown injuries, and we're not releasing names at this time," he said.

Incline Village resident Aaron Mintz, who was driving just behind the Murano prior to the accident, said he'd "never seen anything like it."

"I was just down here to get my oil changed, and this happens," he said. "It's a dangerous stretch of road."

Mintz told NHP officials he saw the Nissan hit the Explorer and "basically take off after that, hitting another car."

He said the driver of the Explorer "appeared to have a seizure and went off the shoulder of the road."

The Explorer then made a quick right turn onto Clearview, but by that time had lost control and overcorrected into the oncoming lane of traffic, said eyewitness Jerry McCullough, of Carson City.

"I was filling up with gas at the AM-PM," he said. "I see this (person) in the Explorer just lose control and come hauling ass around the corner. She T-boned that red Blazer who was about to make a turn onto (South Carson) and head south. That pushed the Blazer into the oncoming lane of traffic, and then the minivan hit him.

"It sounded like a bomb exploded."

The names of all parties are being withheld pending the completion of the investigation, said NHP trooper Scott Simon.

Carson City Sheriff's deputy Bob Guimont said it was "too early" to determine whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

Agencies at the accident site included NHP, Carson City Sheriff's Office, the state fire marshal's office and the Carson City Fire Department.

Troopers, Carson City Sheriff's deputies and NDOT personnel closed Clearview in both directions and parts of Highway 395 for more than three and a half hours to diagram the scene and investigate the area of the crash.

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com.

You can help

Witnesses to the Tuesday afternoon accident at Clearview Drive and South Carson Street are asked to call the Nevada Highway Patrol at 688-2500 or 687-0400.