Teen hurt in wreck; highway closed

A 17-year-old girl on her way to school in Dayton, was injured when she pulled out in front of an oncoming car.

Trooper Nick Nordyke of the Nevada Highway Patrol, said the girl was northbound on Occidental Drive coming from the River Park subdivision about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday when she attempted to turn west onto Highway 50 and pulled out in front of Marco Ortiz, 24, of Carson City, who was driving east.

Ortiz's car struck the left front of the girl's vehicle sending it into a ditch on the north side of the road.

Nordyke said rescuers had to cut the roof off the car to pull the girl to safety.

She was taken by helicopter to Washoe Medical Center. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Ortiz declined medical attention and was driven to Carson-Tahoe Hospital by a friend. Two passengers in Ortiz's car were taken by ambulance to Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

The accident closed westbound lanes for about two hours. Traffic was routed onto a dirt frontage road.

The girl's named was withheld because she is a juvenile and will likely be cited for failure to yield, Nordyke said.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.