Silver Springs fatal crash still under investigation

A fatal crash Jan. 29 in Silver Springs remains under investigation as the Nevada Highway Patrol awaits results of blood testing.

Ryan O'Shea, 22, of Silver Springs was killed in the 6 p.m. accident at the four-way stop of highways 50 East and 95 Alternate.

O'Shea had stopped at the intersection after buying Pepsi at the market and was turning left onto Highway 50 East when his Oldsmobile sedan was struck by an eastbound Ford F350 pickup driven by Gary Tomb, 54, of Yerington.

According to Trooper Scott Farmer, Tomb apparently drove through the intersection at about 45 mph.

Though alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Farmer said Tomb appeared disoriented and thought the collision had happened in Stagecoach, about 14 miles west. He said Tomb also believed that O'Shea had pulled out in front of him.

Tomb was taken from the scene by Careflight helicopter and submitted to a blood draw at the hospital to determine if he was under the influence of a controlled substance.

O'Shea was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rachel Hernandez, whose daughter Krymsen was engaged to O'Shea, said the accident has devastated O'Shea's family in Ohio and the new friends and family he had in Silver Springs.

He'd moved to the area in October 2007 after meeting Rachel and Krymsen gaming online.

Krymsen and O'Shea fell in love, said Rachel, and she encouraged her daughter's relationship with the "great young man."

"He was funny, smart and kind," she said. "The world lost a good human that evening.  Ryan didn't use drugs, drank on rare occasions and was just coming home from the store with some Pepsi when he was taken from us. He was just a great young man who touched all that knew him with laughter and kindness."

Krymsen and her mother flew to Ohio last week to attend the funeral. They also organized a local memorial Friday that was attended by the many friends he'd made in the area and by customers he met at his job at the Daytona Casino in Dayton, said Rachel.

According to an obituary in the Toledo (Ohio) Blade, O'Shea graduated from high school in 2004 and lived most of his life in the Toledo area. He attended Bowling Green State University and was taking courses at Western Nevada College toward a degree in visual communications.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.