Two killed in three-vehicle crash on SR-160 south of Pahrump

Two people were killed and a third driver escaped injury in a three-vehicle collision on State Route 160 south of Pahrump, Nevada Highway Patrol troopers said. The crash, involving a sport utility vehicle, a hatchback and a passenger sedan, occurred near Nye County mile marker 2 just south of Manse Road in the evening, with most outlets reporting the collision around 6:37 p.m.

“The collision happened around 6:37 p.m. on Pahrump Valley Highway (SR-160) just south of Manse Road in Nye County, south of Pahrump, Trooper Shawn Haggstrom with Nevada State Police said in a statement.” Trooper Haggstrom is identified by KSNV as the source of the timing and location in the initial statement to investigators on scene.

According to a Nevada Highway Patrol release cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “An adult male, the driver of the sport utility vehicle, and an adult woman, driving the hatchback, were confirmed dead at the scene, the release said.” KLAS and other outlets likewise reported that the two drivers were pronounced dead at the scene; none of the reports included the victims’ names or ages pending Nye County Coroner notifications.

“The driver of the sedan was not injured and was not transported from the scene, according to investigators,” KLAS reported, and multiple outlets echoed that the passenger sedan’s driver sustained no injuries. Sources did not disclose the number of occupants in each vehicle beyond the drivers.

All northbound and southbound lanes of SR-160 near mile marker 2 were closed during the emergency response and preliminary investigation. News3LV reported the closures continued through Saturday night and said it was unclear when the highway could reopen; KLAS advised alternate routes for motorists traveling between Las Vegas and Pahrump, including taking U.S. 95 north to connect with State Route 160 into Pahrump or using Tecopa Road to California Highway 178 and Nevada Highway 372.

Authorities have not released a cause or contributing factors for the crash. “Details on what led to the crash were not immediately disclosed,” KSNV reported, and Fox5 noted, “Preliminary information indicates that: The identities of the deceased will be released by the Nye County Coroner’s Office after next of kin notifications have been made.” The Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, continues to investigate, and outlets said that “more information will be provided after authorities complete the preliminary investigation.”