Two killed in truck-mine bus crash identified
The Eureka County Sheriff’s Office has identified two people killed in Saturday’s crash in northeast Nevada involving a tractor-trailer carrying ore and a bus carrying mine workers.
The Pilot Thomas truck driver who died was Andrew G. Nash, 29, of Spring Creek. Bus passenger Rocky D. Witt, 62, of Spring Creek also died. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A tractor-trailer ore truck crossed over the center line and crashed into bus with a driver carrying 20 mine employees in northeastern Nevada Saturday morning, the Nevada Highway Patrol reported.
The truck driver and one passenger died, the NHP said. All of the other people on the bus were taken to hospital for treatment. Five were in critical condition and one was taken to a Reno hospital.
The crash happened about 6:35 a.m. on Nevada 766 about 6 miles north of Carlin in Eureka County, the NHP said. The tractor-trailer was going south in a curve when it struck the Coach USA mine bus head on.
Both vehicles came to a rest on the dirt shoulders.
Authorities in rural northeastern Nevada say a mine bus collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig Saturday, killing two people and injuring others.
The Elko Daily Free Press reports the collision occurred north of Carlin on State Route 766, which leads to several mines operated by Nevada Gold Mines.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jim Stewart said two deaths were confirmed and more than 12 people were injured, some seriously.
Stewart said he didn't know whether those killed were on the bus or the truck.
Buses transport miners to the region's gold mines in shifts.
Nevada Gold Mines ' website says it operates eight mines along with processing facilities and is a joint venture between Barrick Gold Corp. and Newmont Goldcorp Corp.
Carlin is 213 miles (341 kilometers) east of Reno.
(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Statement from Lisa Becker of Nevada Gold Mines:
“Shortly after 6:00 am this morning, a bus transporting a crew of Nevada Gold Mines employees was involved in an accident with an over-the-road ore truck on State Route 766.
Local authorities were immediately notified and are on the scene providing emergency services, assisted by the Nevada Gold Mines Emergency Response team. The road is currently closed to all traffic.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the accident, and we are providing counselling and other support resources to our employees and their families. Further details will be provided as soon as they become available.”
