close

Area man killed in Nevada accident

2 min read
article image -

A Burgettstown man was killed near Las Vegas, Nev., Monday when he was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Justin Prokop, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene about 10 a.m., said Trooper Jason Buratczuk of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Prokop was walking in the median of Interstate 15, a six-lane highway in Jean, Nev., about 30 miles from Las Vegas, when he strayed into the southbound lanes near Mile Marker 11.

Buratczuk said the driver of the truck applied “heavy brakes” but was unable to avoid hitting Prokop.

“We had an independent witness verify (Prokop) was going in and out of travel lanes,” Buratczuk said.

Angelo Pulcini, who grew up with Prokop on Devils Den Road in Hanover Township, said friends are stunned by the accident.

“He was just one of those people who was always happy, giggling and laughing – the last person you expect something like this to happen to,” Pulcini said.

Prokop, a 2011 graduate of Burgettstown High School, was attending classes at California University of Pennsylvania. He was a groomsman in Pulcini’s November wedding. The childhood friends have spoken since then, but Pulcini didn’t know why Prokop was in Nevada.

“Nobody really knows what happened yet,” Pulcini said. “He has a lot of friends. It’s just crazy to think this happened.”

The driver who struck Prokop remained on the scene and cooperated with police. No charges were filed, and the accident is under investigation.

Buratczuk said the Clark County, Nev., coroner’s office will perform an autopsy and toxicology screening.

A worker at the coroner’s office said results are pending.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today