A former employee of the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and his stepdaughter were killed Wednesday night in a motor vehicle crash in Nye County.
A Eureka County Deputy Michael Harter, 29, and Haley Lynn Page, 9, died on State Route 318, just south of Ely.
Harter was off-duty at the time, and the family was reportedly traveling south for the holiday. Harter was driving too fast for the wet and snowy conditions when his Dodge Ram pickup lost control and veered into an oncoming semi-truck early Wednesday morning, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chelsea Stuenkel said Thursday.
Harter was a Eureka County Resident Deputy Sheriff for the past four years, and served time as a Reserve Deputy in Carson City under Sheriff Ken Furlong. Harter was also a United States Marine. Carson City deputies have taken to Facebook to express their grief and condolences for Harter and his family.
“I know that if you were here you’d be calling me names and telling me not to fuss over you,” one deputy wrote. “You would tell me to have a drink and that only the Army cries! I can’t help it, you were my brother. Miss you so much brother.”
Haley Page was a student at Crescent Valley Elementary School and was described as “an outstanding young lady who lit up the room with her smile, charm and quick wit.”
Keith Logan II, Eureka County Sheriff, wrote in a Facebook post Thursday that the community and family “is deeply saddened by the events of this morning.”
“We are thankful for all of the emergency responders, peace officers and medical staff who worked on all of those involved in the traffic accident,” Logan said on Facebook. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved, their families and extended communities.”
Harter is survived by his wife Shelly Harter; parents, Scott and Karen Harter and; his sister, Heather Jacobsen.
Shelly Harter, 32, who was riding in the front passenger seat, survived the crash. Shelly Harter was first taken to a hospital in Ely before being airlifted in critical condition to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas, Stuenkel said.
Page is survived by her mother Shelly Harter and father Brenden Page.