Accident kills one

Tuesday, April 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

One Pahrump man was killed and another was injured when their cars collided on State Route 160 west of the Mountain Springs summit.

Christopher Lee, 20, of Pahrump was westbound on State Route 160 and passing slower vehicles by crossing into the two-lane highway's eastbound lane when the collision occurred at 5:44 p.m. Monday, 24 miles west of Interstate 15, said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Harney.

Skid marks at the accident scene show Lee attempted to stop his 1989 Ford van and veer toward the right side of the road to avoid hitting an eastbound 1987 Chevy sedan, which also braked and tried to steer out of the way, Harney said.

The cars hit each other at speeds of at least 65 mph, sending them flipping in opposite directions into the desert.

The 44-year-old driver of the Chevy sedan was not wearing his seat belt, Harney said. His name has been withheld pending notification of his family.

Lee was wearing a seat belt and suffered only minor injuries, Harney said. He was treated and released from University Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

"He just made an honest mistake," Harney said of Lee, who will be cited for unsafe passing with death involved. Authorities believe Lee may have also been speeding at the time.

State Route 160 is the main road between Las Vegas and Pahrump.