Former KPVM employee dies in vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash
“She was a great mother, a great grandma. She loved her grandkids,” Brooke Choate said as she reflected on her mother, Janet Errett, an active member of the community and former longtime KPVM-TV employee, who died after being struck by a side-by-side vehicle while landscaping with her son in her front yard last Friday.
Errett was 66. She is survived by her daughter, two sons and grandchildren.
In 2006, Errett joined KPVM-TV and during her almost 17 years at the well-known independent Southern Nevada station, Errett worked in a variety of roles, including account executive, marketing specialist and TV host.
“She was always the first to volunteer. She was always the last to leave. She was always the one who made things work when nobody else wanted to,” KPVM-TV Founder, President and CEO Vern Van Winkle told the Pahrump Valley Times.
Van Winkle said Errett would even climb and work on the TV station’s tower.
“We found out that she was one of the first female ironworkers in the United States. So she had no fear of heights and she climbed our tower for us for years, even into her 60s,” KPVM Vice President Ronda Van Winkle added.
Beyond her contributions at KPVM-TV, Errett was involved in many outreach causes and organizations such as the Miss Pahrump Pageant, the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“She just always was willing to help anyone,” Choate told the Pahrump Valley Times.
A GoFundMe was created for Errett’s funeral expenses. As of yesterday afternoon, the GoFundMe has raised $6,700 of the listed $6,000 goal.
According to the Nevada Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation of the midday Aug. 14 incident, a 2022 Can-Am OHV side-by-side was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Gamebird Road, toward Unicorn Avenue.
The Can-Am driver failed to drive on the right side of the road, crossed the yellow centerline while traveling in the eastbound, wrong-way lane, the state police report reads.
Highway Patrol said the driver steered left, entering the dirt shoulder/driveway area, still heading west.
The Can-Am’s left front hit a chain-link fence of a residence, striking Errett in the front yard, who was declared dead at the scene, according to state police’s preliminary investigation.
The female driver of the Can-Am, Jennie Farrar, was arrested following the crash. The Nye County District Attorney’s Office confirmed with the Pahrump Valley Times in an email yesterday afternoon that Farrar currently faces charges of reckless driving causing death and attempt to leave the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury.
The GoFundMe states that services will be at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, with no date set yet, adding that further information will be shared as arrangements are finalized.
Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com
