MOAPA (KTNV) — A deadly head-on collision forced the closure of the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 near Moapa on Sunday evening, according to information from Nevada State Police - Highway Patrol.
As of 10:38 p.m. Sunday, all northbound lanes of the interstate had reopened, a spokesperson for Nevada State Police told Channel 13. This comes after all lanes were shut down at approximately 8 p.m. for the investigation.
We're told the crash happened at 6:43 p.m. near mile marker 94.
According to NSP, 21-year-old Diego Jesus Hernandez, of Las Vegas, was traveling south on I-15 in a Toyota Tacoma, "failed to maintain its travel lane," and went off the road and into the dirt center median.
Investigators said the vehicle entered the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a Toyota Prius.
Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. His two passengers were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The driver and passenger of the Prius were airlifted to the hospital.
As far as alternate routes go through this area, your options are limited.
We double-checked with Nevada State Police, who confirmed our suspicions that I-15 is the only direct route from that area to Mesquite and beyond.
It's possible to take U.S. 93 past Caliente and into Panaca, which would spit you back out near Cedar City, Utah — and take you past the largest wildfire currently burning in the Silver State, the Grapevine Fire in Lincoln County.
Your other option would be to travel south from Las Vegas on Interstate 40 into Arizona and continue on another northern route from there.
Each of those options will take you at least four hours out of the way, by our calculations — and likely more.
When we were assessing alternate route options, Google Maps wanted to take us east on Moapa Valley Boulevard and then north on Carp Elgin Road. We had concerns about whether this would be a viable route, because much of it appeared unpaved.
We asked viewers to call and let us know if they tried it and how it worked out. Two drivers responded and let us know it is not a viable route. Drivers reported that a gate along the road was closed, and a police officer turned them back in the direction they came. (Thank you to those who called to share their experiences.)
