August 12, 2026

UNR cheerleader dies after traffic accident

Melissa Link died Saturday at Washoe Medical Center in Reno, where she was taken after Friday's single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 95.

Link was one of five 18-year-old Reno women headed for Saturday night's UNR-UNLV football game in Las Vegas when her Ford Bronco crashed.

UNR cheerleader Christiane Reyes and Lizzette Torres both remained in satisfactory condition Sunday at local hospitals.

Elisa Zalt was discharged Saturday from a Fallon hospital, while Leslie Beck was treated at the scene.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said the group was headed south on U.S. 95 when Link tried to pass another car.

Once in the northbound lane, Link lost control when she swerved to miss an oncoming vehicle. Her Bronco rolled several times, ejecting all four passengers.

Link was the only one wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

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