By Kelsey Givens
A woman, dressed in dark clothing and walking alone in the middle of State Route 160 Tuesday night, died when she was struck by a northbound truck.
The accident happened near the highway’s intersection with Wheeler Pass Road at about 8:15 p.m.
The victim, whose identity has not been made public, was struck at least two more times by vehicles traveling in the highway’s southbound lane. One of these vehicles was driven by a Nye County Sheriff’s deputy.
Deputy Monique Mendoza, a five-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was placed on administrative leave after the accident, a department policy when officers are involved in fatal accidents.
Sheriff Tony DeMeo said his office has turned over all its information to the Nevada Highway Patrol unit investigating the accident.
“We always have, when possible, NHP come investigate something like this,” DeMeo said. “That way it comes from another entity and there is no conflict of interest.”
NHP took over command of the accident scene Tuesday night, closing the route for several hours. The woman’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family members.
NHP trooper Sgt. Carlos Rivera said the force from the hit of the first vehicle threw the woman into the southbound lanes where she was hit by the other two cars. A large highway sign was down near the accident scene.
The woman was reportedly walking down the middle of the highway wearing dark clothing. There are no street lights in the area where she was struck.
The driver of the first vehicle that hit the victim told NHP troopers that she seemed to “come out of nowhere.”
The highway was shut down northbound near Gamebird Road and southbound near Rainbow Avenue due to the incident.
“The highway was closed until one in the morning, so for about four, four-and-a-half hours,” Rivera said.
NHP’s fatal accident team is investigating the incident. The woman’s body was transported to the Clark County Coroner-Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification.
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- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – An unidentified woman was struck as she walked along this dark stretch of State Route 160 Tuesday night. One driver said she “came out of nowhere.”
I can’t imagine how these poor drivers felt driving into that terrible scene. Sadly it seems a case of suicide by any means. It’s just awful that it had to include innocent people too.
It is very unfortunately that possible poor innocent suicide person whom needs help before too late because nobody can’t see in the dark and even the worst is black raining nights with high humidity in the dark impossible to see. I wish that every state should have new law for all walkers, joggers, hikers, bikers, construction workers, cleaning crews, utility workers, emergency crews, and many others should wear very bright colors with lime green, orange, yellow and red vests both days and nights 24/7 for their safety because these drivers can able to see them better bright color visibility regardless any speed for low speed, normal speed and high speed. I cannot do it myself alone that I wrote letters to these government whom did not response my letters because I am nobody. I wish that you and all of these people can help us and work together whom can contact to these governments to get the new safety law all above. Thank you.
I agree and have been posting that the safety issues I was taught when I was young should still be followed! As for bicycles, they are supposed to be equipped with reflectors and lights if riding after dark. They have the same requirements as a vehicle, however it is the enforcement of the law that is not being done here. That is the trouble, there are many things police overlook.
before we go and call this woman suicidel lets wait to see what the toxicology and police reports say.
she could have been high or drunk….she could have been mentaly impaired in some other way.
she could have been ( and i hope this is not the case ) attacked and was in some kind of shock.
there are so many different reasons hat she was out there that it is really premature and unfair to say it was a suicide.
no matter the reason it is sad for all concerned.
I understand you live in Pahrump….and I can respect people’s ignorance….thank you “guess again” for bringing attention to those assholes who assume…My heart goes out to all parties involved. I am the victim’s daughter….it was not suicide, my mother has been suffering from severe mental illness for years. We have been searching for her for nearly a year. We are a well off family with many successes…who loved her dearly. To those who cast ignorant assumptions of suicide ….Just remember everyone has a family …and everyone matters.
Whatever may have been the case this accident might have been prevented if our highways had proper lighting and more than three pedestrian crossings.as is we have very little actual sidewalks for our pedestrians and there isn’t even emergency call boxes on the highway its all ridiculous.
Wow really? You expect the state of Nevada to put sidewalks, and street lights all the way on 160 because someone was walking in the middle of the highway and got hit? And pedestrian crossings? In the middle of the desert? You know where this accident took place right? Nothing on either side of the road to cross TO.
I say the accident could have been prevented by not walking the in the middle of the yellow dotted line on the highway, but thats just me.