By Kelsey Givens

Two people were taken to the hospital after a semi truck collided with the driver’s side of a pickup truck that allegedly pulled out in front of it on State Route 160 early Tuesday morning.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene at the intersection of the highway and Calvada Boulevard before 8 a.m., for a two-vehicle accident involving a commercial semi truck and a silver Ford pickup truck.

Sgt. Carlos Rivera of the Nevada Highway Patrol said it appeared the driver of the silver truck was attempting to go straight or make a left-hand turn from Calvada Boulevard onto State Route 160, when she pulled out in front of the oncoming semi truck, causing the accident.

“The silver truck, a Ford F-150 pickup, was traveling eastbound on Calvada and they were stopped at the stop sign. There was a tractor trailer that was traveling southbound on 160 approaching the intersection when the pickup truck crossed into the line of travel of the commercial vehicle,” he said.

“I’m not sure if they were attempting to go straight across or make a left-hand turn northbound onto 160 when they were struck on the left side by the commercial vehicle. After impact the silver truck rotated, went across to the adjacent parking lot at Terrible’s and struck a parked vehicle that was parked there unattended.”

Pahrump Valley Fire Rescue Services Lt. Steve Moody said the female driver of the pickup truck had to be extricated from her vehicle before she was flown by Mercy Air to University Medical Center in Las Vegas with what could possibly be life-threatening injuries.

The door of the semi truck also had to be removed for medics to get to the driver and help him out of the vehicle. He was transported to Desert View Hospital for further treatment of his injuries as well.

The driver of the pickup truck has been identified as local realtor Laura Aldrich.

An email from a co-worker at All Star Real Estate said she is bruised and has suffered a broken rib, but is otherwise doing well.

The name of the semi truck driver has not been released. His condition is still unknown.

Although the investigation of this accident is still in the very early stages, Rivera said the driver of the pickup was most likely at fault for the incident, since it appears she failed to yield at the stop sign for oncoming traffic.

Rivera said he would like to remind other drivers after an incident like this to make sure they remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times while driving, to help prevent future accidents.