UPDATE: 4:45pm - The crash investigation details learned so far indicate that a 1989 Dodge pick pulling a double-axle livestock trailer carrying 8 young steers or heifers was traveling eastbound on the two-lane highway. Following behind the Dodge and green trailer was a 1995 Ford F-250 towing a white livestock trailer carrying 7 full grown cows. Both of these pickups had only one passenger riding in the cab.
Traveling westbound approaching the Dodge truck was a GMC crew cab pickup towing a 2-axle flatbed trailer transporting a piece of equipment labeled as an electric scissor lift. Witnesses to the event stated the Dodge pick-up veered into the oncoming lane possibly because the livestock trailer was swerving back and forth, or fishtailing. The front of the Dodge struck the left front portion of the GMC pickup in the westbound travel lane. Upon colliding, both pickups caught fire while the green livestock trailer separated or became unhitched from the truck. The green trailer struck the concrete barrier on the north roadway edge and then veered into the eastbound lane where it hit the eastbound white Ford pickup. The Ford pickup and white trailer remained hitched and skidded off the south roadway edge. The white trailer remained upright while the Ford rolled over onto its right side.
The driver of the Dodge truck sustained very serious injuries and was taken from the scene by Care Flight to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno while the two occupants of the Ford were transported by ground ambulance to Renown with moderate injuries. The passenger in the Dodge pickup and all 3 occupants of the GMC pickup died at the scene. The names of all of the victims in today’s tragedy should be released by mid-morning tomorrow to include ages and cities of residency and it appears that all seven are from Northern Nevada.
Meanwhile, the green trailer overturned and ejected all eight yearlings. One died at the scene and the other seven had some visible injuries. Six of the seven were gathered quickly and placed into a holding pen by local residents in the area while the other yearling remained loose. The seven adult cows did not appear to be injured at all. All 14 cows were later transported to Fallon to be checked by a veterinarian. The animals were apparently being transported from the Dayton area to the Fallon Livestock Exchange.
The highway was closed immediately following the collision and has been since reopened.
Trooper Doug Hildebrand of the Major Accident Investigation Team or M.A.I.T. is investigating this case. Witnesses to the event are encouraged to call him at (775) 689-4623 regarding case number NHP-120814458.
UPDATE: Four are dead after a cattle truck collided head on with another vehicle near Stagecoach around 9:00am.
Three vehicles total were involved. In addition to the four people killed, three people were seriously injured. A cow was also killed due to the crash, according to Trooper Chuck Allen with Nevada Highway Patrol. Sixteen cattle were injured.
Highway 50 is closed, but traffic is being rerouted.
UPDATE: According to N-DOT Highway 50 is now closed in both directions. They say, it's not clear if the incident was a fire or explosion. But they did confirm with News 4 the trailer was hauling cattle.
LYON COUNTY, NV (KRNV & MyNews4.com) – Four people are dead following a horse trailer explosion on U.S. 50 between Dayton and Silver Springs near Stage Coach.
Nevada Highway Patrol, N-DOT and Lyon County are investigating the explosion.
Trooper Chuck Allen with NHP tells News 4 that U.S. 50 is not closed at this time but travelers should expect delays.
News 4 has a crew on the way to the scene and is working to get more information.
Stay with News 4 and mynews4.com for more information as it becomes available.
