A 49-year-old California woman died Thursday night south of the Nevada state line after being hit by a car traveling in the wrong direction on Highway 395, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports.
Roberta A. Baragona of Landers, Calif. woman, who was traveling with three other motorcyclists, died at the scene of the accident, which happened between Cold Springs and Bordertown at 11:14 p.m., said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen. The driver of the vehicle who hit the woman, an 85-year-old San Francisco man, was treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Baragona was wearing a helmet and had been riding with three other motorcyclists at the time of the collision, and none of the other riders were involved. One of the motorcyclist’s was the victim's brother.
It is not known if the motorcyclist was participating in this weekend's Street Vibration events in Northern Nevada. NHP urges motorists and motorcyclists to use caution this weekend as tens of thousands of bikers will be on the road.
Preliminary crash investigation details indicate that a black 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 2-door sedan, driven by the elerly San Francisco man, was traveling the wrong-way, southbound, in the northbound lanes of the highway in the left, or number one, travel lane, Allen said.
Traveling northbound in the same travel lane was the 2003 Honda RS 750, being ridden by the deceased Landers, Calif., woman. Both vehicles collided, with woman being thrown from her motorcycle, where she died at the scene, Allen said.
The elderly male driver sustained non life-threatening injuries and was taken by ground ambulance to Renown Regional Medical Center. His condition is unavailable. Although alcohol is not believed to be a contributing factor, NHP continues to investigate whether prescription medication or fatigue or some other medical-related issues contributed to the accident.
Because the accident scene occupied both travel lanes, northbound traffic was diverted off the freeway at the Cold Springs interchange and reopened later in the morning.
Witnesses to the accident, or anyone with additional information, are encouraged to call Trooper Eric Gallagher of the Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) at (775) 689-4661 regarding case # 1009231920.