LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (KSNV) —
UPDATE, July 19 | The Clark County Coroner's Office has identified the two people killed as 50-year-old Robert Jay Barnes and 34-year-old Christopher Markley, both of Idaho.
According to the Coroner's Office, both men died from blunt force injuries, and their deaths have been ruled to be accidents.
ORIGINAL | Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers say a semi-truck driver admitted he fell asleep before a five-vehicle crash on US 93 that killed two men from Idaho.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. Wednesday at an active construction zone.
According to NHP, the semi was filled with sand, so the driver could not stop in time, running over the car in front of him.
The car was ripped in half, split down the middle. The two men inside were pronounced dead at the scene.
They were identified as 35-and 50-year-old men from Idaho.
According to NHP, the semi driver hit three other vehicles, including a car that flipped over.
The drivers of those vehicles remarkably survived.
The crash is a reminder about the dangers of being sleep deprived behind the wheel.
“Drowsy driving is just as bad as if you were impaired or texting and driving,” said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Buratczuk. “It is just as dangerous and it has the same tragic consequences. As we saw here today."
According to NHP, those consequences are expected to bring charges to the driver of the semi. It was not immediately known what charges he would face.
If you find yourself driving drowsy, Buratczuk suggests you quickly find a safe place to pull over.
"If you can get out, take a walk to get the blood flowing. When it is safe, get somewhere where you can safely take a nap,” he explained.
NHP did not indicate how many hours the semi driver has been behind the wheel before the fatal crash. That is part of the department's investigation.
News 3 has learned federal rules limit truckers to 70 hours behind the wheel each week.
The Nevada Trucking Association also told News 3 that truckers cannot drive for more than 11 hours a day and must have a 30 minute break in their schedules.
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Drowsy Driving Cause of Fatal Crash South of Coyote Springs
Posted by Lincoln County Central
July 25, 2018
Two people died in a five-vehicle crash that occurred July 18 around 6 a.m. on Highway 93, south of Coyote Springs.
Multiple Las Vegas news reports indicated a semi truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel in an active construction zone on mile marker 63.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, “Four southbound vehicles were stopped at the direction of a construction crew flagger in an area restricted to one lane for installation of ‘rumble strips’ on the shoulder when a semi trailer loaded with sand struck them.”
The semi first struck a Toyota Corolla, killing its two passengers, and then struck another semi and two other vehicles. Other motorists involved in the crash suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Nevada Highway Patrol is pleading with motorists to immediately get off the road when drowsy.
“Drowsy driving is just as bad as if you were impaired or texting and driving,” NHP Trooper Jason Buratczuk told KSNV Las Vegas. “It is just as dangerous and it has the same tragic consequences. As we saw here today.”
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Robert Jay (J. Anthony) Barnes
12/1/67 - 7/18/18
Born December 1, 1967 in Twin Falls, ID to Linda C. (Kepler) and Richard T. Barnes
Tragically taken from us July 18, 2018 while on his annual pilgrimage to San Diego Comic Con.
Rob graduated from Jerome High School in 1986, where he stood out academically, graduating as Valedictorian. He had more friends than one could imagine, many of whom were still close at the time of his death. He moved to Boise in 1989 and began working at Kinko's, where he was employed as a graphic designer for 23 years.
Rob was intensely creative, funny, kind and loving. His friendships were deep; he had a way of making you feel as if you were his best friend. He loved JAWS and all things shark (how fitting that he passed during Shark Week), Star Wars, robots, music and horror movies. He especially loved going to Sci-fi movies on opening night, surrounded by 40 of his closest friends.
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Christopher William MarkleySeptember 5, 1983 - July 18, 2018
Christopher William Markley died July 18, 2018 in a multiple vehicle accident north of Las Vegas, Nev.
Chris was born Sept. 5, 1983 in Salmon, Idaho. He lived in the family home in Challis, Idaho through the 8th grade when he moved to rural Emmett Valley with his father. He went to Emmett High for 4 years, graduating in 2001. Following high school he spent a year as a scholarship student in Germany. Next was 2 years at Marshall University in W. Va. and East Louisiana Tech in Hammond, La. When hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana Chris was offered a scholarship at University of Idaho where he received his first degree. Next he went to the Gemological Institute in Carlsbad, CA. Back to Idaho in 2008 and a degree in geology from BSU. At the time of his death Chris was employed by the State of Idaho.
Chris is survived by his father Robert. H. Markley, New Plymouth, Idaho; mother, Pamela DeTray, Portland, Ore.; and brother, Richard Max Markley, Portland, Ore. He is also survived by grandparents, Sheila Rickard, Sylvia and Bob Markley, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.