A three-vehicle head-on collision near Mercury claimed the life of a Reno man on Monday.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Loy Hixson said the man, identified as Adam Al-Nuaimi was a passenger in a 2009 Toyota Corolla traveling northbound along U.S. Highway 95 in Nye County when the 20-year-old driver from Reno slammed head-on into a southbound 2011 blue Mini Cooper, while also clipping a truck on the highway just before noon.
At the time of the crash, a red 2011 International semi-tractor and trailer was traveling northbound directly ahead of the Toyota.
“The driver of the Toyota attempted to pass a semi-tractor trailer in a passing zone, by entering the southbound travel lane of U.S. 95 where it collided with the Mini Cooper,” Hixson said. “The Toyota rotated with its rear-end lifting into the air and struck the left side of the semi-tractor trailer.”
Hixson said the Toyota came to rest facing southwest between the north and southbound travel lanes of the highway, while the Mini Cooper came to rest facing southwest between the southbound travel lane and the west dirt shoulder.
Pahrump Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said the extent of injuries required the victims to be flown to University Medical Center’s Trauma Unit in Las Vegas.
He noted that at least three occupants of the vehicles had to be extricated by fire crews.
“Upon sizing up the scene we had three people entrapped and it was also confirmed just prior to our arrival that one person had not survived their injuries from the accident,” Lewis said. “We requested mutual aid from Mercury which was right down the road and we also placed three helicopters on the assignment. Everybody that was involved met flight criteria due to the seriousness of their injuries.”
Hixon said the deceased passenger was pronounced dead at the scene by Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly at 12:13 p.m.
The 20-year-old male driver of the Toyota, also from Reno, and an 82-year-old male driver and 74-year-old female passenger of the Mini Cooper, from Sparks were flown to Las Vegas.
All are listed in serious condition.
The 52-year-old male driver of the semi-tractor trailer from Chico, California was not injured.
Hixson said Monday’s collision is the 27th in the Nevada Highway Patrol’s southern command for 2015.