Wrong way driver through Washoe Valley causes crashes, leaves one dead

One man died after being hit by a wrong way driver early Sunday morning on I580 in Washoe Valley.

Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to head on crash with multiple secondary crashes on the northbound land near Bellevue Road at 2:15 a.m. on June 14.

34-year-old Jackie Contreras of Carson City was driving his 1995 Honda Accord with the headlights off in a southbound direction in the left northbound lane when he hit a 1999 Ford Expedition.

The passenger of the Expedition was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Expedition was transported to Renown with critical injuries. The driver of the Honda was transported to Renown with life-threatening injuries. Their names area being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

After the initial crash, a vehicle unaware of the event, struck an unoccupied vehicle 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.

Alcohol and or drugs are being investigated as a factor in the cause of this accident. It is still unknown if any of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.

I580 northbound is two lanes in each direction with a center divided median, it was shut down for several hours while the NHP diagrammed and investigated the crash scene. There is no roadway lighting in this area of I580 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.

This deadly crash comes just three weeks after two died in a wrong way collision on I80 in Sparks.