Highway Patrol investigating crash that killed 2 people near Red Rock Canyon

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that left two people dead on Blue Diamond Road, also known as state Route 160, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Trooper Jason Buratczuk said a dump truck had brake trouble before rear-ending a blue sedan, which went off the road. The sedan’s driver was taken to University Medical Center with injuries that weren’t life-threatening, the highway patrol said. NHP initially reported that the driver was a woman, but later said in a statement that the sedan’s driver was a 50-year-old man.

The dump truck headed south and rear-ended a mobile home, sending both vehicles off the road, Buratczuk said.

Two people in the mobile home, a 78-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were from Germany. The names of the deceased will be released by the Clark County coroner’s office once their families have been notified.

The Highway Patrol tweeted that the crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. and that traffic in both directions was temporarily closed near the intersection with state Route 159.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers are investigating what caused the brake trouble and don’t suspect driver impairment, Buratczuk said.

Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Illia said the dump truck involved in the crash wasn’t contracted by the department and wasn’t involved in the project to widen Blue Diamond Road.

“The truck was simply passing through,” Illia said in a statement. “The incident will not impact construction.”

The $16.5 million project, which will expand the highway from two lanes to four travel lanes from Red Rock Canyon Road to Mile Marker 16.63, is scheduled for completion in early 2017.

About 5:30 p.m., Nevada Highway Patrol tweeted that traffic was restricted to one lane “with intermittent closures for at least another 3-4 hours,” and suggested that motorists use U.S. Highway 95 to reach Pahrump.

It is unknown when the traffic restrictions will be lifted. As of 7:30 p.m., Buratczuk said that the closures would likely remain in effect for several hours more, but would “hopefully” be lifted by midnight.

Review-Journal reporter Rachel Hershkovitz contributed to this story. Contact Christian Bertolaccini at cbertolaccini@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381.