EUREKA COUNTY (KTNV) — On June 16 at about 10 a.m., a road crew was working on State Route 278 near Eureka County when a man in a passing vehicle shot a Nevada Department of Transportation employee.
A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw a white Ram cargo van traveling southbound at a high rate of speed.
The trooper provided medical aid to the NDOT employee and then began driving south in an attempt to locate the cargo van.
Additional troopers, as well as deputies from the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office, located the vehicle approximately 35 miles north of Eureka.
NHP deployed a tire deflation device and the cargo van was stopped at mile marker 27, north of Garden Pass.
As the suspected shooter exited the vehicle, he began firing at law enforcement, according to NHP.
After an hours-long standoff, the man was located near the van, suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was transported from the scene and succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
The NDOT employee was flown to an area hospital and is said to be stable at this time.
“All of us at NDOT were heartbroken to learn about the tragic shooting of one of our valued team members,” said Kristina Swallow, Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation. “I want to wish our team member a speedy recovery, and I want to thank the law enforcement agencies and medical professionals for responding quickly to the scene and providing first aid.”
No one else was injured in the incident and State Route 278 was closed from U.S. 50 to the Eureka/Elko County line while authorities investigated.
NHP does not believe anyone else was involved. Additional details will be released at a later date.
