Wrong-way driver involved in Washoe Valley fatal had history of reckless driving, DUI

A Carson City man involved in the early Sunday morning fatal head-on crash in Washoe Valley, who was driving the wrong way on the I-580 freeway with his lights out before plowing into a SUV, killing a passenger, was convicted in June 2012 of reckless driving and obstruction and was arrested for DUI in 2007, court records show.

Jackie Contreras, 34, was convicted of reckless driving and obstructing on June 26, 2012, according to records from the Carson City District Attorney’s Office. Coincidentally, Contreras was arrested June 14, 2007 for DUI, eight years to the day of the fatal crash on Sunday. He remains in critical condition at Renown Medical Center in Reno, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper said.

Alcohol and or drugs are being investigated as a factor in the wrong way crash that involved five vehicles after two secondary crashes happened in the northbound lane. Contreras was unconscious at the time a blood draw was administered, said NHP Trooper Dave Gibson.

It is still unknown if any of the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The names of the person who died and those injured after are being withheld until they are identified and family is notified.

The crash happened at 2:15 a.m. in the northbound lane of I-580 just south of Bellevue Road in Washoe Valley. Crash investigation details shows Contreras was driving a silver 1995 Honda Accord, traveling the wrong way going and with its headlights off, going southbound in the northbound travel lanes. Contreras struck a white 1999 Ford Expedition traveling in the left northbound lane.

The passenger of the Expedition died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Expedition was taken to Renown with critical injuries. Contreras was taken to Renown with life-threatening injuries.

After the initial crash, a vehicle unaware of the event struck a vehicle that was in the roadway that had stopped to assist. A fifth vehicle then struck one of the vehicles involved in the secondary crash. None of the occupants of the secondary collisions suffered life-threatening injuries.
I-580 northbound is two lanes in each direction with a center divided median. The freeway was shut down for several hours while the NHP diagrammed and investigated the crash scene. There is no roadway lighting in this area of I-580 and the speed limit is 65 mph.

Trooper Chris Kelly of the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) is investigating this incident. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to reach out to him at (775) 689-4661 or ckelly@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-150601193.