Two killed in separate accidents

Monday, Oct. 19, 1998 | 2:18 a.m.

The Nevada Highway Patrol blames alcohol and driver inattention for a Saturday night wreck that killed Jason Cruz of Salt Lake City.

The patrol said Cruz, 26, was westbound on Interstate 80 when his vehicle came up on a slower-moving vehicle east of Battle Mountain.

Cruz swerved and his car hit a marker post, the patrol said. He then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn several times. Cruz was ejected.

He was taken to Battle Mountain Hospital, where he later died.

A second accident Sunday night took the life of a Lodi, Calif., woman.

James Winter was eastbound on the Ruby Valley Highway in Elko County when he swerved to miss a dog in the road and lost control of his vehicle and a trailer, according to the NHP.

His wife, Rene Winter, 44, was ejected when the vehicle overturned.

She was flown to University of Utah Medical Center, where she later died.

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