On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at approximately 12:25 PM, NHP Troopers were dispatched to a serious injury crash involving a single vehicle at IR-80 and the Virginia Street off-ramp (Exit 13) in Reno.

Preliminary investigation shows a gray 2016 Ford Escape was traveling westbound on IR-80 in the far right travel lane approaching the Virginia Street off-ramp when its driver and sole occupant allowed the vehicle to exit the roadway to the right and enter the dirt area on the north side of the guardrail.

The vehicle continued to travel west in the dirt area, striking a light pole, then striking a concrete bridge support where it came to rest.

The driver (Mary Sauer, a 70-year-old Fallon resident) was declared deceased at a local area hospital.

NHP Case #200101079

Kelsey is a fourth-generation Nevadan, English professor and investigative journalist working in the Sierras. More importantly, she is an advocate of high desert agriculture and rescue dogs.