Pedestrian dies in fatal accident

A pedestrian was killed Friday night on William Street in front of Mills Park after he was hit by a vehicle in the westbound lane.

"I was cruising along and he had just entered my lane. It's like he didn't even see us," said witness Lance Slopes of Gardnerville. Slopes said the man, dressed in all dark clothing, was shuffling across the dark roadway clutching a white bag about 7:19 p.m. The flash of the bag alerted Slopes and he swerved in the heavy traffic to avoid hitting the man, he said.

"As soon as I looked back to see if the guy behind me was going to see him, I heard a crack," a still-visibly shaken Slopes said. "It all happened so fast. Horrible, it's just horrible."

The driver of a white Chevrolet pickup truck was unable to avoid the man, Slopes said. "He probably wondered why I swerved, then the guy was in his lane."

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers closed both westbound lanes for about a block.

Deputy Bob Guimont of the Carson City Sheriff's Department said it appeared the driver of the Chevy struck the victim with his right front bumper. The hood of the pickup truck was dented and the passenger-side windshield shattered.

Troopers said the driver of the Chevrolet was 28-year-old Juan Luna of Carson City, but declined to release the name of a woman, witnesses said stopped to render aid. The identity of the victim was unknown at press time.

Slopes said he called 911 and turned around. As he did, the woman and her husband were kneeling beside the man.

"She kept telling him he wasn't alone and help was coming," he said. "She said she felt his pulse stop."