For the second time in five days, authorities are investigating a fatal wreck between Pahrump and Las Vegas along Nevada Highway 160.
In the most recent crash, a motorcycle rider was killed in a Saturday afternoon crash near mile marker 19, just past Mountain Springs.
The victim was identified as William Martin Hoach, 59, of Las Vegas, the Clark County Coroner’s Office said. He died of multiple blunt-force injuries. The coroner’s office ruled his death an accident.
The crash happened about 1:17 p.m. in the southbound lanes, Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Jason Buratczuk said. Hoach died at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the maroon 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound on Nevada Highway 160 west of mile marker 18 in the right travel lane, the NHP said. The rider of the Harley lost control.
As the roadway curved left, the Harley entered the north paved shoulder, the NHP said. The front of the Harley struck the guardrail fence, and the rider was thrown from the motorcycle.
The crash closed the southbound lanes. Traffic in both directions was temporarily using the northbound travel lanes.
This crash marks NHP Southern Command’s 10th motorcycle fatality for 2017.
ID made in separate wreck
Meanwhile, the man killed Sept. 11 in a separate crash along Nevada Highway 160 west of Red Rock Canyon has been identified.
He was Jose Valdez, 74, of Pahrump, the Clark County Coroner’s Office reported. His death was ruled an accident.
Valdez was driving a white Saturn on Highway 160 near Williams Ranch Road when the vehicle he drove collided head-on with a green SUV, Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Chelsea Stuenkel said in a statement.
The NHP said Valdez, who died at the scene, appeared to be at fault.
The man driving the SUV was taken to a Henderson hospital with survivable injuries. The vehicles carried no passengers.
Compiled from reports from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Pahrump Valley Times.