Illinois woman identified in crash that killed South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Hounsell

Laura Fisher of Washington, Illinois has been identified as the third victim in Saturday's single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 50 in Churchill County that also claimed the life of South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Mark Hounsell and his wife Jeanne.

The 33-year-old Fisher was visiting the Hounsells.

The Nevada Highway Patrol investigation details indicate a white 2004 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Minden resident Mark Hounsell, 42, was traveling westbound on US Highway 50. Six other occupants were in the vehicle including his wife Jeanne, 34, Fisher, four children.

For unknown reasons, the driver allowed the vehicle to drift off the road and over corrected, causing the vehicle to overturn several times. It is believed that the driver and all other occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.

All three adults succumbed to injuries incurred during the crash and were pronounced deceased on scene. Two of the children were transported via Care Flight and two via ambulance to Renown Medical Center in Reno with minor to moderate injuries.

The eastbound travel lane of US Highway 50 was shut down for several hours while the crash scene was investigated. This area of US50 is one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 70 mph.

Impairment at the time of crash is not suspected.

Trooper Karen Garretson 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 her at (775) 689-4625 or kgarreston@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP -151001600.