The man who died in a car accident in Sparks on Saturday has been identified. The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office said he is 30-year-old Jacob Edwards.
His westbound Jeep Patriot was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 80 and the crash forced the closure of a major section of the freeway in the Reno-Sparks area.
Reports indicate that the two people in the other vehicle were robbery suspects.
The Sparks Police Department said its officers responded to a robbery call a little before 6:30 a.m. on Saturday at 1515 Oddie Boulevard near its intersection with Rock Boulevard.
Police said the victim reported that a man and a woman, who were each armed with guns, threatened him and robbed him of his wallet. A second male suspect was present.
Police said the male suspects left the scene in a white pickup truck while the female person of interest remained at the scene.
Officers said the individuals who fled took them on a short chase. Officers attempted to end the pursuit using a maneuver, but they were not successful.
The suspects reportedly headed east on Victorian Avenue and then drove the wrong way up an off-ramp at McCarran Boulevard.
They continued driving the wrong way on the interstate and then collided with Jacob Edward’s vehicle.
The suspects were taken into police custody and treated for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Police withheld their names but did not say why.
However, Nevada Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Hannah DeGoey said more information about the driver could be released this week.
The investigation continues in the meantime.
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