A fatal accident closed US Highway 95 near Schurz on Friday, Oct. 26 around 6:45 a.m. when a tractor trailer crossed the center divide and collided with oncoming traffic.

Nevada Highway Patrol released a preliminary report which responded to the multiple vehicle crash on Oct. 30.

The report states that a gray 2011 Volvo truck tractor towing a white box trailer was traveling northbound on US 95 towards Schurz.

A white 2017 Jeep Wrangler towing a white 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV was traveling southbound on US 95 towards Hawthorne.

A green 1995 Nissan pickup truck towing a silver 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup was traveling southbound directly behind the Jeep Wrangler.

It is reported that “the driver of the Volvo tractor allowed the vehicle to travel over the centerline of the highway and entered into the southbound travel lane. The driver of the Jeep Wrangler steered to the right in an attempt to avoid the collision. The front of the Volvo tractor struck the front of the Jeep Wrangler which then traveled down an embankment and became fully engulfed in flames. The Volvo tractor then struck the left side of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup which was being towed by the green Nissan pickup.”

The driver of the Nissan pickup was able to safely bring the vehicle to a controlled stop on the southbound shoulder. The Volvo tractor and trailer traveled onto the northbound shoulder and came to rest on its wheels down an embankment.

The driver of the Jeep Wrangler, Esdras Otoniel Canastuj-Ramirez, age 46 and a Guatemala resident was pronounced deceased at the scene having succumbed to injuries he sustained in the crash.

The highway was closed or down to one lane traffic for most of the day while rescue crews, recovery vehicles and law enforcement worked the scene.

If you were a witness to the incident or have information regarding the collision, contact Sergeant Chris Kelly of the Nevada Highway Patrol Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team at 775-687-9649 or ckelly@dps.state.nv.us. Please reference NHP Case #181002334.