Clark County, NV (Oct. 23, 2026) – Aaron Hernandez, a 29-year-old husband and father, died in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 15 near the turnoff to Valley of Fire State Park, according to Nevada Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 4 a.m. on October 23. Nevada Highway Patrol said Hernandez was driving south on I-15 when he tried to avoid another car traveling in the wrong direction. The two vehicles still collided.
Hernandez and the other driver, a 38-year-old woman, were both killed on impact, according to Nevada Highway Patrol. The crash remains under investigation. It is unclear why the other car was traveling the wrong way or where it entered the interstate.
Margaret Hernandez, his pregnant wife, spoke with local media days after the crash. A GoFundMe account has been set up to support her and her children, since Hernandez was the main provider for the household. She said the family has received support from the community in Nevada, from friends across the country, and from his family. Hernandez is from Puerto Rico.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What Families Can Do After a Fatal Wrong-Way Crash in Nevada
UNLV’s Nevada Traffic Safety Research Center reported that 38 fatal wrong-way crashes killed 57 people on Nevada interstates and county roads from 2017 through 2024, with 2024 recording the most crashes and deaths. Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Haggstrom said most wrong-way crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., especially on weekends. These 5 steps protect a family’s options in the first weeks:
- Request the crash report. Ask Nevada Highway Patrol for the report number and the investigating unit’s contact, because the investigation drives every later claim.
- Ask that the vehicle be held. Tell investigators and the tow yard not to release or salvage it, since its damage and data record how the crash happened.
- Route insurance calls to one person. Choose one relative or an attorney to take insurer calls, and give no recorded statement.
- Collect every record. Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate, and keep funeral bills, medical bills, and pay stubs.
- Limit public posts. Insurers and their lawyers can read posts about the crash.
Wrong-Way Crashes and Wrongful Death Claims in Nevada
A wrong-way crash raises one question first: how did a vehicle end up traveling against traffic? Investigators answer it with crash reconstruction, toxicology testing, vehicle data, and the route the vehicle took to the interstate. That answer decides who may be responsible.
Nevada law lets a family file a wrongful death claim after a fatal crash. The claim recovers losses such as lost income and support, funeral costs, and the loss of a spouse’s and parent’s companionship. A separate survival claim lets the estate recover losses the person suffered before death, such as medical bills and lost wages.
When the other driver also died, the claim can still proceed against that driver’s liability insurance and, when needed, her estate. A family’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply when that policy falls short.
- Who may be liable: the other driver and her insurer, plus a public entity such as the Nevada Department of Transportation when roadway design or signage played a part.
- What evidence decides it: reconstruction findings, toxicology results, ramp and highway signage, and event data recorder data.
- If fault is shared: under NRS 41.141, Nevada reduces a recovery by the victim’s share of fault and bars it at 51% or more.
- Deadline: wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death (NRS 41.085), so the deadline is October 23, 2028. A claim against a public entity must also be presented under NRS 41.036 within the same two years.
Contact Our Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer
Families ask the same thing first: who deals with the insurance company while we grieve? Ace Law Group takes those calls from the first conversation, so relatives can focus on each other. Patrick W. Kang founded the firm after his own family went through his father’s workplace injury without proper legal help.
Our car accident attorney in Las Vegas team investigates the crash, identifies every liable party and insurance policy, and negotiates with insurers or tries the case when an offer falls short. The firm won a $1.9 million verdict against an insurance company in a car crash case. Hon. Christopher K. Lee (Ret.), a former Nevada judge with 12 years on the bench, is part of our team. Every case is different, and that verdict shows how hard we push insurers.
Our Las Vegas office at 6480 W Spring Mountain Rd, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89146 is the closest to the crash location. Call 702-508-7675, visit us, or send your details through our contact form, and we will talk whenever your family is ready.
