Two Dead in Wrong-Way Collision on Highway 395 Near California-Nevada Border

Two Dead in Fatal Wrong-Way Collision on Highway 395 Near California-Nevada Border

A head-on collision claimed two lives Sunday evening when a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction crashed on U.S. Highway 395 near the California-Nevada state line, according to authorities.

The incident began at approximately 7:31 p.m. on February 15, 2026, when the California Highway Patrol received multiple reports of a southbound vehicle driving in the northbound lanes of Highway 395. The wrong-way driver was first spotted between the Agricultural Inspection Station and the state line, prompting immediate emergency response.

Law enforcement agencies from both states mobilized quickly as the situation unfolded. The California Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office were all notified as the vehicle continued traveling against traffic toward Nevada, creating a significant hazard along the busy interstate corridor.

Just five minutes after the initial reports, at approximately 7:36 p.m., emergency dispatchers received calls reporting a head-on collision just north of the state line in Sierra County. Callers described a chaotic scene with one vehicle engulfed in flames and occupants potentially trapped inside. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office transferred a distressed caller to Sierra County dispatch to report the vehicle fire.

First responders from multiple agencies rushed to the scene, including Truckee Meadows Fire Department and REMSA Ambulance services. Deputies from the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office were also dispatched to assist with the emergency.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel confirmed that a tan Subaru Impreza and a white SUV had collided head-on in the northbound lanes of Highway 395. Responders found two critically injured drivers, one in each vehicle. Medical personnel immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on one driver, while the other remained unresponsive and trapped within their vehicle.

Despite the intensive lifesaving efforts by emergency medical teams, both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding their identities until family notifications can be completed.

Highway 395, a critical north-south transportation route connecting California and Nevada, remained closed for several hours as emergency crews worked the scene and investigators gathered evidence. The closure caused significant traffic delays in the region, with vehicles being diverted to alternative routes.

This stretch of Highway 395 has seen several serious accidents in recent years. According to transportation safety data, wrong-way driving incidents on divided highways are particularly deadly, with fatality rates significantly higher than other types of crashes due to the combined force of head-on impacts at highway speeds.

The California Highway Patrol has taken the lead in investigating the collision, while the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the coroner’s investigation. Authorities will be examining various factors that may have contributed to the wrong-way driving, including potential impairment, medical conditions, confusion, or deliberate action.

“The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to the families and friends affected by this tragic incident,” a department spokesperson stated. “We urge all drivers to remain vigilant on our highways and to report any dangerous driving behavior immediately to emergency services.”

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to release more details as they become available. Traffic safety experts note that increased signage, roadway design improvements, and emerging technologies like wrong-way detection systems have been implemented in some regions to combat these types of incidents, though such measures haven’t yet been fully deployed along all sections of Highway 395.