Man struck, killed along Highway 160
The Nevada Highway Patrol and the Nye County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a fatal vehicle/pedestrian incident along South Highway 160 just near Dandelion Street at approximately 11 p.m., on Wednesday evening, March 18.
Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services Chief Scott Lewis said the vehicle involved was an ambulance, which was transporting a gunshot-wound patient to a Las Vegas area hospital at the time.
Upon arrival, Lewis said a request was made to add two additional medic units and an engine company to the location.
“It was determined that the pedestrian was deceased at the scene, and immediately an investigation got underway,” he said. “We also checked our EMS crews and found that those traveling in the ambulance were not injured. Medic 3 was first in, where patient care was transferred, and that patient was subsequently transported to UMC Trauma without incident.”
Lewis also said that Nevada Highway Patrol troopers determined that the pedestrian was at fault in the accident.
“They are investigating several unique aspects of the accident in regard to the pedestrian’s behavior, and that investigation is ongoing,” Lewis said. “There were reports from other motorists that the victim was jumping out in front of other cars along the highway, but nobody called 911.”
Additionally, Lewis said that NHP troopers commended the driver of the ambulance for maintaining control of the vehicle.
“They noted that our driver did an outstanding job trying to avoid the impact at the last second,” he said. “The driver’s evasive maneuver was so well executed, that it could have rolled the ambulance had it not been done correctly. He tried his best to avoid the impact, and then did a great job maintaining the control of the ambulance to avoid overturning the vehicle. That was NHP’s comment to me.”
Southbound Highway 160 was shut down for several hours while crews conducted their investigation and worked to clear the scene.
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes
