Nevada Highway Patrol says a Tonopah man is dead after a fatal crash on US-6 in Nye County.

Officials say the crash happened on May 5 around 2:44 p.m. near mile marker 33 in Nye County, 33 miles east of Tonopah. 

Investigators say a Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) asphalt oil tanker was heading westbound on US-6 when the tire tread separated on the left front tire. The tire malfunction caused the tanker to cross into the other lane and overturn in the shoulder, spilling 1,600 gallons of asphalt oil. 

Officials say 59-year-old Joseph Wayne Paul of Tonopah was pronounced dead at the scene. 

This was the second fatal crash on US-6 in a week, after a Utah man was killed in a fatal crash north of Tonopah on May 3. 

The crash is being investigated by the Nevada Highway Patrol Northern Command East Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T.)

NHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the crash to call the NHP Elko Office at (775) 753-1111.

 

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