Nevada Highway Patrol has identified a Gardnerville driver who died after a three-car crash on Highway 395 and Courtland Lane near Gardnerville last Tuesday morning.
NHP says a preliminary investigation shows that a silver 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was southbound on US-395 and stopped to make a left turn onto Courtland Land when a white 2012 Freightliner semi-truck heading southbound on US-395 failed to stop and struck the rear of the Dodge pickup waiting to make a left turn.
NHP says the Dodge pickup was forced into the northbound travel lane. A white 2016 Peterbilt utility service truck was traveling northbound at the time of the collision. The front of the Peterbilt service truck struck the Dodge pickup, killing 53-year-old Sean Leonard.
This crash is being investigated by the Nevada Highway Patrol Northern Command West Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T.) - NHP Case #210201479.
The crash site also temporarily forced some travel delays for area students.
At the time, the Douglas County School District sent this statement to parents:
"Good afternoon, this is DCSD Superintendent, Keith Lewis with a very important announcement regarding bus transportation to the southern part of Douglas County for Tuesday, February 23rd. Due to a fatality involved accident south of Gardnerville, DCSD will be forced to transport students who live south of Cortland Lane through Yerington on their route home.
The affected routes that will be traveling home through Yerington are those that serve southern Douglas County south of Courtland Lane, including Pineview Estates, Topaz, Holbrook Junction, and all stops in between. Route 1, which serves Douglas High School and ASPIRE Academy High School, and Route 38, which serves Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School will leave school at their normal time. Routes 2 and 27, which serve Minden Elementary School will depart the school at approximately 2:00 PM. Due to the long route home, students will obviously return much later than normal.
There will also be delays for routes to the Bodie Flats area, which is north of the accident scene. Route 44 that serves Douglas High School and ASPIRE Academy High School, Route 37 that serves Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, and Route 11 that serves Scarselli Elementary School will be slightly delayed, but drop-off will have to occur on the north end of Bodie Flats.
We appreciate your understanding and an email has been sent with this information and an announcement has been posted on our district website. Thank you.
Caryn Harper
Executive Secretary to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees
District Office"
