Names released of Hwy. 28 accident victims
Updated July 20 1:05pm.
By Kathryn Reed
Two people died in a three-car accident Tuesday on Highway 28 four miles south of Sand Harbor.
The highway reopened about 8:30pm after being closed for five hours.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Mike Edgell said Miguel Perez, 24, of Gardnerville was heading south when his green Ford F350 drifted across the center line and struck the left rear of a commercial truck’s trailer.
Seeing the truck coming, the Taurus behind the commercial truck pulled to the shoulder, according to Edgell. But then Perez’s truck hit the Taurus head-on.
“It was so hard it pushed it back and off the roadway,” Edgell said of the Taurus being struck.
Killed in the accident were the driver Michael Rapanaro, 57, of New York and front passenger Charles Farlow, 59, of Reno
Two female passengers in the back of the Taurus sustained serious injuries. They were taken by ambulance to Incline Village and then CareFlight flew them to Renown Medical Center in Reno. Edgell said Lori Brown, 57, of Reno was in critical condition. Rhonda Farlow, 57, of Reno was not as critically injured.
Perez refused medical treatment. Passengers Abel Najar of Gardnerville, Miguel Perez Jr. and Alexis Perez, all of Gardnerville, were taken by ambulance to a Reno hospital.
Commercial truck driver Mark Thorpe, 54, of Yerington was not injured.
Perez has not been charged with any crimes while the investigation continues. Edgell said alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident.
Any witnesses are asked to call Trooper Eric Gallagher at (775) 687.0400.
So sad to hear this. I see this on a daily basis of people crossing the yellow line. I don’t know how many times I have been thrown off the side of the road by careless drivers. Makes me not even want to drive anymore, especially when I have my child in the car!
When are people going to wake up and learn to respect the roads and others? Time to start cracking down harder on careless drivers.
7.19.11 CS10
this is very very sad time michael will be missed by his family and many many friends mike was a very caring and generous person he had a huge heart he was truley one of the good ones i am proud to say he was a real friend not only to me my dad and my brand new son sammie we called him uncle mike my wife,and brothers were really happy when he came into our lives several years ago god bless family your friend johnny b( sammies angel )
It’s horrible when it happens to you, or your loved ones, but it happens every day across the country, one of the terrible side effects of these life changing machines that take us wherever we want to go.
Sounds like the guy who caused this did nothing illegal, just maybe was tired, or distracted; which we all do, and now has to live with this for the rest of his life.
Sorry for the families and friends losses :(
Lori Brown was actually married to Mike Rapanaro in October of last year and has been residing in New York. It’s especially sad because she was reunited with Mike after many years before getting married. Both of these women lost the loves of their lives and it is just so senseless. On a narrow hwy like hwy 28, people must be careful. This driver just shattered lives with carelessness. Very sad indeed.
Lori Brown has now been added to the list of disceased due to this Miguel Perez driver. If I was him, I would never drive another vehicle again!!! I would never be able to handle the guilt of killing 3 people with my distracted driving, or whatever the reason was, he has affected many lives with his carelessness. If it wasnt for that reason, why else would it be??? they say it wasnt drugs, well then what else is there?
Yes, the person with a Hispanic, what else could it be other than drugs?
It’s been weeks. A toxicology report might be available and you should at least make an honest effort and look for it before you make such accusations.
What does hispanic have to do with being in an accident? That’s why it’s called an accident and not a purpose.
Joe Smith did something similar at some time.
You need to read more carefully, Bongo. You’re assumption that cryinganger is being racist is your own projection.
The driver Miguel Perez drifted over the center line. It says they don’t think alcohol was involved. Cryinganger then says that it must have been distracted driving if it wasn’t drugs or alcohol.
YOU are the racist here, constantly accusing others of that sin.
Really? It has been weeks since the accident. And they did not reference any toxicology reports.
So they base their accusation on what exactly?
Joe Smith did the same thing somewhere else some time ago.
Also your use of the word racist is (shockingly) inaccurate.
I read their last question as being rhetorical.
‘they say it wasnt drugs, well then what else is there?’
because of the phrase ‘well then’ and ‘whatever the reason’ earlier.
The report never mention non intoxicant related cause for the crash. Cell phone records are pretty easy to get a hold of. The provider knows when you are on the phone, what you were doing, who you were texting, what site you were browsing, etc. And in the case of an accident that is easy for law enforcement to get a hold of.
To me the name is gender neutral. Was the driver a woman?