Last Wednesday, at about 1:30pm, NHP Troopers responded to a fatal crash on US93, 61 miles south of Wells, Nevada. Preliminary investigation indicates that Marcia Thompson, age 67, from Meridian, ID, was driving a 2009 Kia traveling South on US 93.
For unknown reasons, Ms. Thompson allowed her vehicle to cross the center line and enter the other lane, against coming traffic. Gainhart Samuelson, age 69, from Petersburg, AK, was driving a 2016 Ford pickup traveling North on US 93. Also a commercial motor vehicle, driven by David Tarbaj, age 67, from British Columbia, was traveling North behind the Ford pickup. The Kia and the Ford pickup sideswiped each other and rotated in the travel lanes. The Ford pickup rolled over onto the east dirt shoulder coming to rest on its top. The Kia stayed in the travel lanes and was broadside in the North bound lane when it was struck on its right side on by the tractor trailer. Both the Kia and the tractor trailer came to rest on the west dirt shoulder on their wheels.
Marcia Thompson, didn’t survive the impact, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford pickup, Mr. Gainhart Samuelson was transported to Elko Hospital (NNRH) with moderate injuries, while the truck driver didn’t need further care. All three drivers were wearing their seat belts.
US 93 was blocked for approximately 2 hours while emergency crews worked the incident.
