VERDI –– Wednesday at 1:27 p.m., troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 80 near Verdi involving a vehicle that had traveled down an embankment.

Troopers found that a white Lexus four-door sedan with two male occupants was traveling east on Interstate 80 just east of the Gold Ranch interchange. For reasons still unknown to police, the elderly driver allowed his vehicle to veer into the center median when he corrected his steering to the right to avoid entering the westbound lanes. The vehicle continued to travel eastbound in the center median for several hundred feet between the eastbound and westbound travel lanes. The vehicle then struck the west edge of the overpass that spans over the Truckee River before rolling down an embankment about 75 feet. While continuing down the embankment, the vehicle struck a pine tree.

After the vehicle came to rest on its wheels, the male passenger was able to get out of the vehicle on his own but had noticeable injuries and was transported from the scene by ground ambulance.

However, the driver had to be extricated by fire department personnel and was flown to Renown Regional Medical Center by Care Flight. The driver was in and out of consciousness at the scene prior to being airlifted, according to troopers.

Both westbound travel lanes were closed for about 30 minutes to position the helicopter as close to the accident scene as possible. Once the patient was airborne, police opened the right westbound lane while the left lane remained closed for emergency vehicles on scene.

The left lane was cleared and reopened at about 2:50 p.m.

Anyone with information, particularly anyone who may have witnessed a driving pattern of the Lexus prior to departing the freeway, is encouraged to call Trooper Eric Gallagher of the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) at 689-4661 regarding case No. NHP-1003171245.