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ELKO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities in rural northeastern Nevada say a mine bus collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig Saturday, killing two people and injuring others.
The Elko Daily Free Press reports the collision occurred north of Carlin on state Route 766, which leads to several mines operated by Nevada Gold Mines.
The crash took place about 6:35 a.m. Saturday, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jim Stewart said in a news release. The truck was traveling south on S.R. 766 and was going around a curve. For some unknown reason, the truck crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the bus, Stewart said.
All 20 passengers on the bus were transported to a hospital with injuries, and five of the passengers were in critical condition, Stewart said in a news release.
One of the passengers on the bus died, and the driver of the truck also died, Stewart said. He did not identify them.
Reece Keener, who is mayor of nearby Elko, Nevada, said at least two other accidents have happened at the same curve where the bus crash occurred Saturday. One of the crashes involved a chemical spill, Keener said.
He said he hopes the Nevada Department of Transportation takes appropriate action to make the curve safer.
Mining is the "mainstay" of the Elko region, and just about everyone knows someone who works for Nevada Gold Mines, Keener said.
"Our hearts really go out to the victims’ families and we just hope for the best outcome for those that are critically injured and for others that will be having to recover from horrible injuries," he said.
Buses transport miners to the region’s gold mines in shifts.
Nevada Gold Mines website says it operates eight mines along with processing facilities and is a joint venture between Barrick Gold Corp. and Newmont Goldcorp Corp.
Carlin is 213 miles (341 kilometers) east of Reno.
Contributing: Alex Cabrero, KSL TV
