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Two people lost their lives and 3 people in critical condition after a multi-vehicle pile up between Wells and Elko Saturday.
According to the Nevada Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol Division, “around 4:45 am, a 2004 Ford E series van was eastbound on Interstate 80 when the vehicle overturned, ejecting 5 of the 6 occupants. Preliminary investigation reveals that Maurice A. Jenkins, age 41, of Wayne Michigan was driving the van when he allowed the vehicle to drift left into the dirt median. He swerved to the right, crossed the eastbound lanes and exited the south road edge. He then over corrected to the left which caused the van to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and overturn towards the passenger side. The five passengers were ejected as the vehicle overturned. The passengers and the driver sustained injury; three seriously and three had minor injuries. All occupants were transported to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital. The driver and two passengers were then flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. None of the occupants in the van were wearing seat belts. The eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 began to backup due to the lanes being blocked.
40 minutes later while troopers and ambulances still organizing the scene tragedy struck again.
According to NHP reports at about 5:25 a.m., a 2008 Kenworth truck-tractor and semi-trailer loaded with produce was traveling eastbound approaching the stopped traffic. The driver of the Kenworth, Hardev Singh, age 44, of Stockton California failed to observe the stopped traffic. The Kenworth rear-ended a stopped 2008 International flatbed truck driven by Joshua Gaskins, age 40, of Elko Nevada. The International was then pushed into a 2005 Jeep Cherokee driven by Maria Mata, age 69, from Elko Nevada. The Jeep was then pushed into the rear of a 2010 Kenworth truck-tractor towing double trailers loaded with dairy cattle supplement. This Kenwoth was driven by Kelsey Prestwich, age 36, of Wendell Idaho. The Kenworth, driven by Hardev Singh, veered off the south roadway edge where it over-turned onto its right side. Mr. Singh sustained fatal injures in the collision and died at the scene. The Jeep and the International came to rest in the eastbound number one lane facing south. Ms. Mata sustained critical injuries and was flown to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, then to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. On July 4th, 2011, Ms. Mata died from her injuries. Mr. Gaskins sustained serious injuries and was transported to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital by ground ambulance. A co-driver of the 2008 Kenworth, Harvinder Badesha, age 23, of Yuba City California, who was asleep in the sleeper berth, sustained minor injuries. He was also transported Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital by ground ambulance. All of the occupants, with the exception of Mr. Badesha, were wearing seat belts. A fifth vehicle was involved but sustained only minor damage from flying debris.
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 were blocked for approximately 5 hours. At approximately 10:30 a.m. one eastbound lane was opened. The second lane was opened at approximately 5:00 p.m.