St. George man dies in I-15 crash after striking construction vehicle near Mesquite

A 22-year-old Utah man died early Thursday morning after his vehicle collided with a construction truck on Interstate 15 in Clark County, approximately 11 miles south of Mesquite, Nevada.

Fatal collision in construction zone

William Rance Bill of St. George, Utah, was pronounced dead at the scene after the 2022 Kia Forte he was driving struck a 2024 Isuzu NPR-HD cone truck at approximately 6:45 a.m. on July 31. The crash occurred near mile marker 106 on southbound I-15.

According to Nevada State Police Highway Patrol, the construction vehicle was parked between the left shoulder and leftmost lane of the interstate with its direction board and warning lights activated. The truck’s driver had exited the vehicle to set up construction signs when the collision occurred.

“The driver of the Kia failed to obey the ‘move over’ law when approaching a highway maintenance vehicle, and the left front of the Kia struck the right rear of the Isuzu,” Nevada State Police stated in their press release.

A passenger in the Kia was transported to a nearby hospital by helicopter with unknown injuries. The construction worker was not injured in the incident.

Traffic disrupted for hours

The fatal crash caused massive traffic backups that lasted several hours on the busy interstate corridor between Las Vegas and Utah. The extended closure resulted in numerous drivers attempting to go off-road to bypass the congestion, with more than a dozen vehicles requiring recovery assistance after becoming stuck.

Nevada Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation into the crash. The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed that Bill died from blunt force injuries.

Understanding Nevada’s Move Over Law

This tragic incident highlights the critical importance of Nevada’s Move Over Law, codified as NRS 484B.607. The law requires drivers to take specific actions when approaching certain vehicles on the side of the road, particularly those displaying flashing amber or blue warning lights.

Under Nevada law, drivers must:

• Move at least one lane away from the stopped vehicle if it’s safe to do so
• If unable to change lanes safely, slow down to a speed below the posted limit
• Proceed with caution past the incident

The law applies to:

• Emergency vehicles with flashing lights
• Nevada Department of Transportation vehicles
• Construction and maintenance vehicles
• Tow trucks
• Any stalled vehicle on the roadside
• Vehicles stopped for repairs
• Even debris on the roadway

Since 2003, Nevada has required drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. The law was expanded in 2017 to include NDOT vehicles and construction equipment, and further expanded to cover any “traffic incident” including stalled vehicles and debris.

Serious penalties for violations

Violating Nevada’s Move Over Law is a misdemeanor offense carrying significant penalties:

• Fines up to $395 for a standard violation
• Fines up to $790 if the violation occurs in a work zone
• Four demerit points on the driver’s license (license suspension occurs at 12 points within a year)
• Potential jail time up to six months
• Higher penalties if the violation results in injury or death

Community mourns young victim

A GoFundMe campaign organized by Bill’s brother Tatum had raised more than $11,000 of its $13,000 goal as of early August. A memorial service was held on August 5 for the young St. George resident.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by construction workers, emergency responders, and others who work alongside Nevada’s busy highways. Nevada Department of Transportation frequently emphasizes that these workers rely on drivers following the Move Over Law for their safety.

Safety reminder for drivers

With ongoing construction projects throughout Nevada’s highway system, drivers are urged to remain vigilant when approaching any vehicle stopped on the roadside. The few seconds it takes to change lanes or slow down can mean the difference between life and death for roadside workers and can prevent devastating accidents like this one.

Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Nevada Highway Patrol. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine all factors that contributed to this fatal collision.

Image Sources: https://ksltv.com/local-news/utah-man-killed-nevada/809391/

Category: State News
Subcategory: Traffic Accidents
Date: 08/20/2025