Driver, victims of trailer park accident identified, witnesses sought

No charges have been filed against the man who accidentally drove a semi-truck through a mobile home park near Topaz Lake early Friday morning, according to a press release issued by the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Forty-two-year-old Daren Eugene Blackshire of Bishop, Calif., was driving a commercial 18-wheeler full of food around 4:45 a.m. southbound on Highway 395 when it crossed the northbound lane and entered the Holbrook Station Mobile Home Park adjacent to the road.

The truck sheared off the rear bedroom of one trailer where two girls were sleeping before crashing into a vacant trailer and coming to a stop.

Blackshire suffered head injuries in the crash.

Neighbors found 12-year-old Miranda Luna near the wreckage. She suffered from scrapes and bruises. It took 30 minutes for rescue workers to find 16-year-old Leticia Avalos who was dragged with the truck.

"Of the three, she had the most critical injuries," said East Fork Deputy Fire Chief Bobby Wartgow. "We found her kind of on the saddle tanks on the big rig."

Leticia and the Blackshire were transported to Carson Valley Medical Center then taken by helicopter to Renown Medical Center in Reno.

Julia Luna, legal guardian of both girls, suffered from a back injury. Luna had moved the girls from Sacramento, Calif. a month ago.

Officials are investigating the cause of the crash. Wartgow said the driver had indicated to rescue personnel at the scene of the accident that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Witnesses with helpful information are encourage d to call Trooper Scott Farmer at (775) 689-4623.

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