RENO - A 56-year-old Lovelock woman was killed in a crash on Interstate 80 in Churchill County on Tuesday night, Dec. 6.
The Nevada Highway Patrol reported that Mary E. Ryan of Lovelock sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ryan was a band teacher at Pershing County Middle School and High School. According to an NHP report, troopers were dispatched to the crash involving two vehicles that happened on I-80 near the Jessup interchange in Churchill County, approximately 30 miles east of Fernley, at 7:21 p.m.
The NHP's preliminary crash investigation details indicate the driver of a 1998 blue Ford Windstar van, 47-year-old David D. Lillie of West Yellowstone, Mont., was traveling eastbound on I-80 in the right travel lane. Lillie's van was approaching the rear of another eastbound vehicle traveling just ahead of him, a red 1997 Toyota Tercel 2-door sedan driven by Ryan. The front of the Ford van struck the rear of the Toyota sedan. The force of the collision forced the Toyota to travel into the center median, where it rolled over and came to rest on its roof.
Ryan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Meanwhile, the NHP said Lillie allegedly attempted to flee in his vehicle and eventually stopped approximately a half-mile east of the crash scene. The driver of a commercial motor vehicle who witnessed the crash followed the errant driver and flashed his truck's lights until Lillie pulled over onto the right paved shoulder and stopped.
The NHP said Lillie received minor injuries in the collision and allegedly displayed signs of drug impairment. He was transported to Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon by ground ambulance, where he was treated and medically released a short time later.
Upon being medially cleared, he was placed under arrest by the NHP and taken to the Churchill County Detention Facility, where he was booked for reckless driving causing death, hit and run from a fatality accident and driving under the influence of drugs causing death. He was still in custody as of the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 7, with a total bail of $600,000.
The Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating this event and witnesses or anyone with additional information are encouraged to call Trooper Dan Gordon or Trooper Eric Gallagher at (775) 689-4661 regarding case # NHP-111204841.
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