Sutcliffe accident kills passenger, injures driver

Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a single vehicle rollover accident on Friday that killed one man and injured another.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said in a release the accident occurred on State Route 445 North of Sutcliffe near mile post 38 in Washoe County.

The crash investigation details indicate a silver 2001 Mitsubishi Galant driven by 35-year-old Travis Gammon Wessman of Sun Valley, along with passenger 39-year-old Joshua James Wessman of Reno, was traveling northbound on SR 445 at a high rate of speed. Ther NHP said Travis Wessman failed to negotiate a curve and traveled across the center line and traveled onto the west side dirt shoulder. The vehicle struck a metal reflective post and then overturned. The vehicle came to rest on its top on the west dirt shoulder. Joshua Wessman, the passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of his injuries. Wessman was transported to Renown via Care Flight with non-life threatening injuries.

The NHP said both occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. Furthermore, the NHP report said alcohol is a contributing factor in the cause of the accident base upon evidence from the scene of the crash. Wessman has charges pending after the investigation of the crash and results of voluntary blood test are completed, the NHP added.

State Route 445 was intermittently shut down for several hours while the crash scene was investigated and diagramed. This area of SR 445 is one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 65 mph with no roadway lighting.

Trooper Karen Garretson of the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) is investigating this incident. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to reach out to her at (775) 689-4625 or kgarretson@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-150502581.