Service today for woman hit by truck

A memorial Mass is 10 a.m. today for a Gardnerville woman who was killed after she ran out in front of a semi-truck Friday evening.

Nadine Kimberly Thornburg, 40, was identified as the woman who died in the 5:30 p.m. incident which occurred in Double Spring Flat near Pine Valley Road.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, driver Richard Kevin Zeff of Lexington, N.C., was driving the 2004 Freightliner when Thornburg, who was heading east on Pine Valley Road, ran in front of the truck.

Zeff tried to avoid the woman, but she was struck by the rear wheels, officers said.

The truck is owned by Schneider Trucking out of Gary, Ind.

Thornburg had been living with her parents, Gardnerville residents Lawrence T. and Dolores "Dee" Haines for a year since she lost her position as an escrow officer at a South Lake Tahoe savings and loan.

The Haines home overlooks the spot where Thornburg was killed.

Thornburg's uncle, Patrick Haines, said she suffered seizures and was on medication. Thornburg had been living with her parents for about a year after she lost her job due to her seizures.

He said the family is praying for the truck driver.

"We want to send him and his company a letter saying we know it wasn't his fault," Haines, who is in town from Oklahoma for the funeral.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Simon said the investigation into the accident is still under way.

"We will wait for the coroner's report about the pedestrian and are still investigating why she was on the highway," Simon said Saturday.

Investigators restricted traffic at the site for more than five hours on Friday evening.

Thornburg is survived by her husband, Ron of South Lake Tahoe, son Brandon of Gardnerville, daughter Chloe of South Lake Tahoe, sister Lori Mendenhall of Sparks; brother Scott Haines of Gardnerville; parents Gardnerville residents Lawrence T. and Dolores "Dee" Haines; and her grandmother Isabel Zilius of Gardnerville.

The Mass will be held at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville.

Arrangements are in the care of Walton's Douglas County Mortuary in Minden. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bank of America Acct. 501003568242.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact the highway patrol at 688-2500 or 687-0400.