Published in the High Desert Advocate in the August 28th, 2020 Edition
In a I-80 accident last week, two Wendover women were ejected from their car and pronounced dead at the scene. (photo credit Nevada Highway Patrol Northern Command East)
A car crash on Wednesday morning took the lives of two passengers and injured two others.
The car crash occurred at about 11 a.m. (Pacific Time) on August 19, on Interstate 80 near mile marker 365 in Elko County, about 13 miles east of Wells, East bound toward Wendover.
Preliminary investigation determined that a silver 2000 Ford Excursion SUV was traveling westbound on Interstate 80, towards Wells, in the leftmost westbound travel lane. The right rear tire tread separated from the sidewall of the tire and the Excursion traveled off the left side of the road, into the center median. The vehicle overturned in the median and multiple occupants were ejected. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels in the center median of Interstate 80 facing south.
Two women — 49-year-old Maria Taide and 80-year-old Maria Gonzalez — were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two children were flown from the scene with serious injuries. The other occupants of the vehicle did not sustain life-threatening injuries. Officials say that only one occupant was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Nevada Highway Patrol, Wells District is still investigating the case.
