Off-Duty Washoe County Sheriff's Office Deputy Killed in Motorcycle Accident

Deputy David Hanks

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of one their own tonight.

According to Washoe County Public Information officer Bob Harmon, the man killed in a crash around 1:45 yesterday afternoon at the intersection of South Virginia and Holcomb Ranch Lane was David Hanks, a fifteen year veteran of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.  Hanks was off-duty at the time of the accident.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, 37 year old Hanks was ejected from his motorcycle when a 2012 Chevrolet van traveling northbound on South Virginia tried to make a left hand turn and struck Hanks motorcycle head-on. Hanks had been driving  in the Southbound lane. 

The driver of the van, 29-year-old Michael Johnson, was not harmed in the accident.

Banks was taken to Renown where he later succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

Harmon tells News 4 that, “We are working with the men and women of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to help them grieve and cope with this tragic loss.”

If you witnessed the crash or have any information that may help investigators please call trooper Kris Satterwhite with the Major Accident Investigation team at ksatterwhite@dps.state.nv.us regarding case number NHP-130902426.