Dave Maxwell
A freightliner truck ran up onto a guardrail on U.S. 93 about 20 miles south of Alamo. The driver and co-driver were not injured. About 700 feet of guardrail was taken out.
A northbound semi-tractor trailer tore out about 700 feet of guardrail along the east side of U.S. Highway 93 about 20 miles south of Alamo, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Sgt. Guy Davis said the accident happened Aug. 13 about 7:30 a.m. “A 2006 Freightliner rig, hauling a load of Gatorade, was northbound, driven by 55-year old Joel Spoelstra, and co-driver, 72-year old Jerry Hallberg, both of Washington state.”
Spoelstra told NHP troopers he fell asleep, and Davis said, “The rig drifted onto the east side and struck the east guardrail face. It then travelled on the guardrail and onto the east shoulder. It rotated counter-clockwise and back into the northbound travel lane and came to a stop on top of the guardrail and partially in the northbound travel lane but did not go over the side.”
No injuries to the truckers were reported, and Alamo Nevada Department of Transportation supervisor Todd Palmer, credited that to the guardrail being in place. He said, “It did a lot of damage to the guardrail, but it served its purpose and kept him up on the roadway.”
Highway Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and NDOT all responded along with the Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Ambulance. No other traffic was involved and the roadway was closed for a short time while cleanup operations took place.
