August, the month we're in right now, is the deadliest month to drive on I80. On average, there are about a hundred deaths across the nation on that 1 highway in August. The numbers are no surprise to the men and women in blue who respond to this road in northern Nevada. Nevada Highway Patrol Chief Dennis Osborn told us, "I-80 is the deadliest interstate in America."
That sad statistic doesn't surprise Chief Osborn. He's been there on tragic business, too many times: “The fatal accidents are random. There's no rhyme or reason to them, typically. I think some of them are just people being tired."
And it really gets bad in August, I-80’s worst month. Just 2 weeks ago today, a rollover on 80 near Derby Dam took the life of a 21 year-old Yerington man. He lost control of his Suzuki Sidekick after it drifted into the inside dirt median. Driver Jessie McCool was killed. And even though he wore his seat belt, NHP Captain Stephanie O’Rourke told us, "Traffic accidents are the most violent things you can imagine." And why so many in August? Warmer weather brings more vacation drivers, travel trailers and motorcycles, mixing in with too many other drivers. O’Rourke adds, "We have kids back in school, and just a lot more people out on the road."
Highway patrolmen do their part to warn people… yet they still see the carnage out there on the highway. O’Rourke told us, “It’s hard to even fathom how destructive and violent these crashes can be."
The 5-year average is 92 deaths on I-80 across the nation in August. Here in Nevada, the trend is disturbing. In 2013, there were 6 fatal crashes on 80 from Verdi to Wendover. 2014, there were 18. And with 4 more months to go in 2015, we have already topped last year with 19 fatal crashes:
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6 fatal crashes on I-80
              207 Injury crashes on I-80
 2014       18 fatal crashes on I-80
               199 Injury crashes on I-80
 2015       19 fatal crashes on I-80
Today (Thursday), a heads up from the NHP. Troopers put the word out of a crackdown to reduce the number of deadly car accidents on Interstate 80. They'll be staffing up and putting an extra presence on 80…watching driving habits for signs of speeding, distracted and impaired driving. As Captain Stephanie O’Rourke told us, "In the Reno area, be prepared to see an increased amount of troopers on the roadway."
What would Chief Osborn like to see after that? "I'd like to see no fatality crashes during this 3-day event. Zero. It’s their (the drivers) decision and their choice. It’s their choice on driving habits."
