Published Friday, June 24, 2011 | 9:55 a.m.
Updated Friday, June 24, 2011 | 11:30 a.m.
Ms. Nevada Tracy Rodgers
Reigning Ms. Nevada Tracy Rodgers was critically injured Thursday morning after her red Camero rear-ended a Chinese tour bus on Interstate 15 near Moapa.
Trooper Jeremie Elliott said the driver of the U.S. Asia Casino Tours bus was attempting to make an illegal U-turn when 41-year-old Rogers struck him.
“The investigation is still ongoing but this was a major violation,” Elliot said.
Not only was the driver making an illegal U-turn, but Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokesman Duane DeBruyne said the bus company, based in California, was not supposed to be on the road.
“Their USDOT operating authority was revoked on June 13,” said DeBruyne. “They failed to provide us with proof of insurance.”
DeBruyne said there are legal consequences to driving a bus across state lines without an operating authority.
Rodgers was taken to University Medical Center by helicopter and is still in critical, but stable condition. Eight passengers on the bus were injured and one was later taken by ambulance to the hospital for head and neck injuries. The bus driver, 46-year-old Jianchun Guo, was unharmed.
Rodgers was set to compete in the Ms. United States competition at the Las Vegas Hilton in July.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy