A retired Washoe County Sheriff’s deputy and his passenger died on Thursday afternoon in an accident on Mount Rose Highway, according to Nevada accident reports.

The victims are Jon Weber and Carole Kerkla.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said it was a single-car crash. The 54-year-old Weber died at the scene while Kerkla, 55, passed away shortly after in a hospital. Both were residents of Reno.

The NHP said the crash happened around 5:45 p.m.

According to the authorities, a 2005 Ford Mustang had stopped at the traffic light on Wedge Parkway behind a Dodge Viper. Weber was driving the Mustang. The vehicles were heading west.

Both vehicles accelerated and they reportedly reached speeds that were 25 to 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. Witnesses told law enforcement officers the cars were driving aggressively, but the NHP said their investigations revealed they were merely speeding.

The NHP said the Mustang skidded because of improper gear shifting and it hit a curb before overturning into a tree.

Weber worked in the Sheriff’s Office for more than 23 years and had stints in detention and patrol. He also worked with the RAVEN team. He retired in January 2020.

The Sheriff’s Office said Weber was given many letters of commendation over his career.

He was remembered for his smile and his love of animals and the Office said he was also a great mentor and friend. 

In 2019, there were 284 traffic fatalities in Nevada. There were 48 deaths for the first two months of this year, according to accident reports.

Some families seek compensation with help from a car injury lawyer.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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