Police continue investigation into car accident that killed eight

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:17 a.m.

Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Gary Johnson said a reconstruction of the accident should be done next week.

"Everybody wants to know why," Johnson said. "It's really tough telling the families that we are not sure right now."

The accident occurred Friday night when an Isuzu Trooper apparently crossed the center line and collided with a Pontiac Grand Prix on U.S. 95 near McDermitt.

Investigators are checking headlight and brake light filaments to determine whether they were on just before the accident.

Killed in the accident were Noel Hatch, 24; Julia Hatch, 29; Nicholas Hatch, 3; and Zachary Hatch, 2 months, all of Boise. They were in the Trooper.

Also killed were Timothy Smith, 32, of Homedale; his wife, Melanie Burton, 27, of Wilder; Ronnie Carpentier, 44, of Mountain Home; and Carolyn Hamilton-Vaughan, 33, of Caldwell.

Police say Julia Hatch was the only adult wearing a seatbelt. Both the Hatch children were in child restraint devices, but it is not clear whether the child seats were properly secured.

Open containers of alcohol were found in the Pontiac, but it was unknown whether alcohol was a factor in the accident.