A motorcyclist was killed late Friday night after colliding with a wild burro on U.S. 95 northwest of Las Vegas, according to authorities. Nevada Highway Patrol troopers were called just before 10:45 p.m. to the southbound lanes at Snow Mountain, where the rider was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash triggered a temporary shutdown of the highway while investigators worked the site.
Troopers found the rider dead after the motorcycle struck the animal, according to details from a Nevada Highway Patrol email reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The outlet reported that the rider had not yet been identified and noted that the preliminary investigation remains ongoing.
Southbound lanes near Corn Creek Road were blocked in the immediate aftermath of the collision, and Nevada State Police later posted that the crash had cleared and traffic was moving again early Saturday morning, as reported by KTNV. The closure lasted into the late-night hours before crews finished processing and clearing the scene.
Burros, BLM, and the Desert Roadway
Wild burros are a familiar sight across stretches of southern Nevada and can wander onto highways with little warning, creating sudden hazards for drivers and riders. The Bureau of Land Management stated that a May 2024 Red Rock gather removed 70 burros as part of ongoing efforts to manage herd sizes and protect the rangeland.
Investigation and Next Steps
Nevada State Police said the crash is under investigation, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. KTNV reported that officials did not immediately say whether the burro survived the impact. The Review-Journal noted that its initial coverage relied on a patrol email for the timeline and location details…