Driver, victim in fatal head-on identified

According to his Facebook page, the driver in a fatal head-on collision Monday near Fallon was home on leave from the Army, planning to attend the funeral of his brother, also a soldier stationed in Afghanistan.

The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 50 east of Fallon around 5:45 a.m. According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Justin E. Speed, 21, of Fallon crossed the center lane and collided with an eastbound 1983 Volvo station wagon driven by Samantha Sibis, 18, also of Fallon.

Both Sibis and Speed had to be extricated from their vehicles. Sibis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speed was listed in good condition Tuesday at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

Speed graduated in June 2008 from basic combat training in the U.S. Army. According to his Facebook page, he was on leave from Afghanistan visiting family in preparation for his brother's funeral Friday in California. Michael Joseph Allen-East, 22, died on Oct. 28. He was a lance corporal and infantry machine gunner for the U.S. Marine Corps, according to an obituary in the Fresno Bee.

NHP spokesman Trooper Chuck Allen said alcohol appears to have been a factor in the crash.

"Evidence at the scene and the observations of Mr. Speed at the scene suggest alcohol was definitely a factor in the accident," Allen said. "(Evidence being) an odor and open containers."

Allen said nothing is official until the toxicology report is released. He said an accident report with coroner's office and toxicology reports could take at least 30 days.

Sibis was in the process of joining the U.S. Army. Her recruiter Sgt. Jason Hyde said Sibis was interested in military police and intelligence and had spent the past several months working toward qualifying.

"She had three jobs," Hyde said. "She was a busy girl. She wanted to pay for college. She wanted something more. She wanted to move on to bigger and better things."