Fernley woman killed in wrong-way crash on I-80

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

A Fernley woman was killed in a head-on collision after driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 early Sunday morning.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, Katie Marie Russell, 21, was killed when the Chevrolet HHR she was driving struck a Chevrolet Tahoe head on, on Interstate 80 west of Patrick (approximately 5 miles west of USA Parkway).

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers responded to multiple reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 80, traveling westbound in the eastbound travel lanes. At approximately 2:34 a.m., Nevada DPS Dispatch was advised of a crash involving the wrong way driver.

The NHP says the gray 2006 Chevrolet HHR SUV driven by Russell was traveling westbound in the right-hand travel lane of eastbound Interstate 80. A maroon 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV was traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 toward Fernley in the right-hand travel lane. The HHR struck the Tahoe head-on in the eastbound travel lane.

Russell died of the injuries she sustained in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Tahoe was transported via CareFlight with serious injuries. Both eastbound travel lanes were shut down at the Mustang exit during the investigation. Traffic was rerouted until the roadway was fully reopened at 6:45 a.m.

If you were a witness to this incident, or have any information regarding this collision, please contact Trooper Chris Kelly of the Nevada Highway Patrol Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T.) at 775-687-9649 or ckelly@dps.state.nv.us NHP Case #180900096.