Walnut Creek man dies after being struck by CHP patrol SUV at Lake Tahoe
UPDATED 11:30AM: A 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, New Year's Day, on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning, said NHP Troopers Mike Edgell and Chuck Allen. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, died at the scene of the accident.
A preliminary investigation shows the troopers 2011 Ford Expedition apparently struck the pedestrian while traveling in the westbound lane of the four-lane highway. It was unclear whether the pedestrian was, as initially reported, walking in the lane of traffic on the dark and dimly-lit road. The victim's body was thrown into a lane of traffic and and was struck by a transportation bus, said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen. The victim may have had alcohol in his system, Allen said. The name of the CHP trooper has not been released.
Highway 50 in both directions from Stateline to Round Hill was closed for about four hours. Motorists were advised to take State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade to bypass the area.
The accident is the third pedestrian fatality at Lake Tahoe in two days. A married Incline Village couple, Robert C. Mathis and Linda Mathis, were killed on Friday night near a crosswalk on State Route 28 in Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. A 25-year-old Grass Valley man faces two counts of driving under the influence causing death.
The CHP officer was returning to the Truckee patrol station from New Year's Eve duties at the casino corridor in Stateline, Edgell said. About 30,000 people attended the event in the casino area of Stateline, Douglas County authorities report.
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