Semi truck blamed in chain-reaction accident

A multiple-vehicle accident on Highway 395 and Jacks Valley Road on Monday afternoon was caused when an 18-wheeler failed to stop in time to keep from hitting six other vehicles stopped at the stoplight.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating the accident that resulted in at least two people being critically injured, one other with serious injuries and another with less serious injuries.

According to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen, the trucker hit his brakes but didn't slow enough to keep from slamming into a green Honda and a green Explorer. The Explorer was forced into the adjacent white dump truck, and also struck a Chevrolet van. The van then hit the rear of a silver Buick. The Honda hit the back of a BMW in the chain reaction accident.

Two women and a young man had to be cut from the wreckage of the Explorer by East Fork firefighters. The women were taken by Care Flight helicopter to Renown with critical injuries. The man was taken to a local hospital.

The driver of the Honda was taken to Renown by a second Care Flight helicopter with serious injuries. A passenger in the silver Buick also claimed injuries.

Allen said that in all, 11 motorists and seven vehicles were involved in the accident.

Both southbound lanes on Highway 395 were blocked because of the sandwiched vehicles and the completion of the onscene portion of the investigation, Allen said. Southbound traffic were rerouted onto Jacks Valley Road by NDOT personnel until about 5 p.m. Motorists also used the dirt portion of Valley Vista between Topsy Lane and Jacks Valley Road.