UPDATE JULY 19: The Clark County coroner has identified the airman killed in a crash on Wednesday morning as 25-year-old Kaden Russell Peterson, no city of residence listed.
His cause of death was blunt force trauma from the crash and his death has been ruled accidental.
ORIGINAL STORY
An airman stationed at Nellis Air Force Base was killed in a rollover crash on US 95 on Wednesday morning.
It happened near Mile Marker 107, just north of Lee Canyon Road. Nevada Highway Patrol says a van carrying 5 airmen experienced a left rear-tire malfunction. The driver of the van lost control and ran off of the road.
#TrafficAlert Fatal rollover crash US-95 northbound and Clark County Mile Marker 107. Only 1 northbound travel lane open. Expect major delays and avoid the area. #DriveSafeNV #BuckleUp #NHPSoComm pic.twitter.com/Ll9tJoEsLe
— NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) July 17, 2019
Multiple occupants were ejected from the van. One of the airmen was pronounced dead the scene. One was airlifted to UMC Trauma with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Three of the other occupants were transported to UMC Trauma in serious condition, according to NHP.
All 5 airman were assigned to the 820th Red Horse Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base. The Red Horse Squadron is a self-sufficient, 404-person civil engineer and logistics unit capable of providing rapid response and independent operations in remote, high-threat environments to support worldwide contingencies and special operations, according to the base's website.
Nellis AFB sent the following statement:
Nellis leadership is deeply saddened by this morning’s accident and the loss of one of our own -- our focus now is on caring for them, their families and their Wingmen. We are grateful for the quick actions of the first responders and medical professionals who are caring for our Airmen.
The crash was reported at 5:18 a.m. July 17.
Identification of the deceased will be released pending notification of next of kin. Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in this crash. This crash remains under investigation.
