Emergency Calls: Mercy Air responds to Highway 160 crash

One person was transported by air to UMC Trauma following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 160 on Jan. 2.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said the driver was traveling northbound on the highway when the collision occurred just after 7 p.m.

“One of the vehicles was struck from behind and that vehicle went over the center median, end-over-end, where it landed in the southbound lanes,” Lewis said. “While there was no entrapment, one patient met flight criteria and was flown by Mercy Air, who arrived at the scene. The landing zone was established on Highway 160 in the southbound lanes.”

Roughly two years ago, Nevada Department of Transportation crews installed cables along the center median to prevent such occurrences.

Lewis said due to the impact from the collision, the cables did not stop the vehicle from entering into the southbound travel lanes on the highway.

“That vehicle, however, made brief contact with the cables and then went over the cables,” he said. “There was significant damage to the vehicle as result of the end-over-end mechanism.”

An electrical malfunction triggered a structure fire last Tuesday on the 4900 block of Money Street.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a double-wide manufactured home with fire emanating from an electrical outlet.

Crews had the fire under control within minutes.

On Thursday fire crews were met with back-to-back vehicle collisions just before 2 p.m.

Lewis said the first collision occurred on Highway 160 just north of Highway 372, where five people were transported to Desert View Hospital.

“January 5th at 1:45 p.m., we were dispatched for an injury motor vehicle accident on southbound Highway 160 just north of Highway 372.

“Upon arrival, we found a three-vehicle accident where all occupants were still inside their vehicles, however, none were entrapped,” he said. “The investigation revealed that we had a total of five patients that we transported to the local hospital. Additional medic units were added as required and all assignments were completed without incident.”

As crews were working to clear the scene, the second collision occurred in the area of Wilson Road and Happy Lane.

“Upon arrival, crews found a single-vehicle accident where the vehicle hit a utility pole,” Lewis said. “The impact split the first pole, which dropped to the ground and thus pulling down a second power pole. There was no entrapment, but the vehicle was actually found about two or three blocks away from the original impact. While there were injuries, the driver declined medical treatment or transport.”

On Friday, fire crews were dispatched for a structure fire on the 1700 block of West Mesquite just after 2 p.m.

“Upon arrival, we found smoke showing from a two-story log cabin-type home,” Lewis said. “Crews found that the fire had appeared to be contained to the freestanding wood-burning stove and the stovepipe. They extinguished the fire and evacuated the residence because of the smoke condition within. There were no injuries reported.”

On Sunday fire crews were summoned to Highway 160 at Mesquite Avenue for a two-vehicle collision just after 9 a.m.

“Upon arrival, crews found a T-bone type collision,” he said. “There was no entrapment but there were injuries and that patient was transported to the local hospital.”

Later that morning, Lewis said crew were dispatched to Highway 372 and Red Rock Drive for another two-vehicle collision just before 11 a.m., where one person was entrapped inside their vehicle.

“Crews arrived on location and found a driver of one of the vehicles was injured and physically trapped inside the vehicle,” Lewis said. “The injuries the driver sustained were consistent with flight. Mercy Air 24 was brought to the scene, where a landing zone was established and patient care was transferred to Mercy Air. That patient was subsequently flown to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes