Trooper killed in car accident

Nevada Highway Patol Trooper Robert Whitaker, who was based in Las Vegas for six years, was killed Monday in a car accident near Goldfield.

Whitaker, 31, was headed south on U.S. 95 just before noon, about 200 miles north of Las Vegas and seven miles north of Goldfield, NHP Trooper Todd Marrhold said. He was returning from visiting friends in Carson City.

It was hailing and the roadway was slippery, Marrhold said. Whitaker lost control of his 1997 Nissan, he said.

Two cars in a caravan of three on their way to Carson City, were headed north. One of them, a 1969 Ford driven by Douglas Viuhkola, 26, of Clatskanie, Ore., saw the Nissan spin out of control and, to avoid hitting the Nissan, crossed the road into the desert and flipped, Marrhold said. A second vehicle, 1997 Jeep Cherokee driven by Brandon Viuhkola, 23, also from Clatskanie, was hit by the Nissan.

Whitaker was dead at the scene. Brandon Viuhkola was taken to Nye Regional Hospital where he was treated and released, Marrhold said.

The accident was under investigation, Marrhold said.

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