Texas teachers killed in Fernley wreck

FERNLEY - Two Texas teachers vacationing in Nevada were killed Monday morning when their vehicle was rear ended by a state highway truck in Fernley.

Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen said, Renee J. Upchurch, 53, from San Diego, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her friend, Esther Garza, 59, also of San Diego, Texas, died at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno after being taken from the scene by helicopter.

Both women were teachers at San Diego High School in Texas.

According to Allen, the women were stopped in a gray 2008 Ford Sport Trac pickup parked on the right paved shoulder of Highway 50 Alternate when a 1999 three-axle Nevada Department of Transportation truck left the highway and rear-ended the pickup. He said the impact of the accident pushed the Ford into the desert.

"For reasons still to be determined and investigated, the big truck departed its travel lane and veered onto the right shoulder area and struck the rear of the pickup," Allen said. "The pickup was pushed into the dirt area adjacent to the roadway and remained on its wheels while the large truck continued to travel just off the right roadway edge and rolled over onto its right side."

NDOT driver Leslie Brewer, 61, of Sparks, sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate and was transported by ground ambulance to Renown.

The eastbound lanes were closed for several hours while paramedics stabilized the two injured victims. The Care Flight helicopter landed on the highway until it lifted off for Reno with Garza.

The Nevada Highway Patrol-Northern Command Major Accident Investigation Team will be conducting the investigation and witnesses, or anyone with additional information, is encouraged to call Trooper Mike Stapledon at (775) 689-4623, or the Department of Public Safety-Communications Center at (775) 687-0400 regarding case No. NHP-1106130380.