A 72-year-old Sparks woman, who had been reported missing since late November, was found dead Monday in a single vehicle rollover crash on State Route 28 south of Sand Harbor in the Lake Tahoe area, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The body of Betti Jean Fernandes was found inside a green 2000 Subaru Outback, which went off the right paved shoulder down an embankment and overturned. The vehicle came to rest on its top, between 50 to 100 feet down the embankment, said NHP Trooper Duncan Dauber. The crash was discovered Monday at 4:56 p.m. by NHP troopers but it is unknown when it happened.
“The day that it happened we have not determined. What we do know is the crash didn’t happen that day,” said Dauber.
The incident remains under investigation through the Washoe County Coroner’s Office. It is unclear at this time whether she died due to a medical issue or injuries that happened as a result of the crash, said Dauber.
Fernandes was the only occupant of the vehicle. She was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. She had been reported missing by family on Nov. 30 when she left her Sparks home to go for a Drive and had not been heard from since.
The southbound travel lane of SR28 was closed for several hours while the crash scene was investigated. This area of US28 is one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 45 mph.
Trooper Chris Kelly of the Nevada Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (MIRT) is investigating this incident.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to reach out to him at (775) 689-4625 or Ckelly@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-151201357.
