Walnut Creek man killed by California Highway Patrol SUV at Lake Tahoe on Highway 50

UPDATED 1:30PM: A 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, New Year's Day, on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning, said NHP Troopers Mike Edgell and Chuck Allen. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, died at the scene of the accident.
A preliminary investigation shows the troopers 2011 Ford Expedition apparently struck the pedestrian while traveling in the westbound lane of the four-lane highway. It was unclear whether the pedestrian was, as initially reported, walking in the lane of traffic on the dark and dimly-lit road. The victim's body was thrown into a lane of traffic and and was struck by a transportation bus, said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen. The victim may have had alcohol in his system, Allen said. The name of the CHP trooper has not been released.

Highway 50 in both directions from Stateline to Round Hill was closed for about four hours. Motorists were advised to take State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade to bypass the area.

Here is an update, released at 1:14 this afternoon from Trooper Allen:
Pedestrian Killed on US Highway 50 near Stateline Shortly After Midnight
At approximately 12:44 am this morning, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to an accident on US Highway 50 near Stateline, just east of Lake Village Parkway, involving a pedestrian who was struck and killed. This section of US 50 in Douglas County is a four-lane highway with east and west bound travel lanes separated by a double-yellow line and the posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour.

The information investigated so far indicates a 21-year-old Walnut Creek, California man was walking in the left eastbound travel lane wearing denim jeans and a black jacket. Traveling east in the same lane approaching the pedestrian was a 2011 Ford Expedition California Highway Patrol vehicle driven by Officer Joshua J. Varanini, 38 of Truckee. Evidence at the scene shows Officer Varanini applied the brakes of his SUV and steered the vehicle to the right to avoid striking the walker. The left front portion of the patrol vehicle stuck the man who was forced into the opposing westbound travel lane. A white 1998 Ford E-450 two-axle passenger shuttle bus traveling westbound and driven by 38-year-old James L. Eastland of Sparks could not avoid striking the pedestrian. The downed pedestrian was stuck by the undercarriage of the shuttle van. There were no passengers riding on the bus and the drivers of both vehicles were not injured.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol--Major Accident Investigation Team will be investigating this tragedy. Once we are confident that his next-of-kin have been officially notified, we will release his name. The accident forced the closure of the highway for almost four hours. Eastbound traffic was rerouted out of the area via State Route 207, Kingsbury Grade, while westbound traffic was turned around near the scene. The highway was completely reopened at approximately 4:36 am.

Witnesses or anyone with additional information regarding this tragedy should contact Trooper Eric Gallagher at (775) 689-4661 regarding case number NHP-120100102.

The accident is the third pedestrian fatality at Lake Tahoe in two days. A married Incline Village couple, Robert C. Mathis and Linda Mathis, were killed on Friday night near a crosswalk on State Route 28 in Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. A 25-year-old Grass Valley man faces two counts of driving under the influence causing death.
The CHP officer was returning to the Truckee patrol station from New Year's Eve duties at the casino corridor in Stateline, Edgell said. About 30,000 people attended the event in the casino area of Stateline, Douglas County authorities report.