Highway fatalities up in 2007

Eight people died on Douglas County roads in 2007, bucking the statewide trend toward fewer fatalities.

Nevada Office of Public Safety Division Chief Chuck Abbott said two more people died in 2007 than in 2006.

The eight deaths resulted from three vehicle accidents and one case where a pedestrian ran into the path of a truck.

Half the deaths occurred in July when an entire family was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 395 in the Pine Nuts.

Jerome Albino Calevro, 58; his wife, Maria Amelia, 52; daughter Bernadette, 23, and son Jerome Daniel, 15; died July 14 when a vehicle driven by Dawn Katherine Miley, 42, of Gardnerville, crossed the centerline. Miley survived the accident.

The other four fatalities on Douglas roads include:

n Jason Carl Walker, 36, and Gina M. Harrison, 35, died Jan. 19 when Harrison pulled out in front of a truck at Highway 88 and Kimmerling Road.

n Nadine Kimberly Thornburg, 40, died Oct. 5 when she ran out in front of a truck on Highway 395 at Pine View Road.

n Kathleen Holton, 58, died Nov. 2 when she pulled out in front of another vehicle at Highway 395 and Muller Lane.

Abbott pointed out that while overall deaths on the highways were down, in some communities, like Douglas, a few deaths skew percentages substantially.

"While the decrease in fatalities is positive news, even one fatality on our highways is too many," said Abbott. "With the continued support of our many partners, we plan to continue to encourage people to wear their seat belts, slow down and not drive impaired."

Overall, Abbott said Nevada's rural highways have far fewer fatalities than either Washoe or Clark counties.

"Our rural areas seem to be more safe," he said. "White Pine County also saw a bump up, but the difference was one person."

Washoe County also bucked the trend with 44 fatalities compared to 31 last year.

Abbott said educating the public did a great deal toward reducing the number of fatals state wide.

"We need to keep people buckled up and off the roads if they're drinking," he said. "The media support has really brought us a lot of attention for these issues."