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NV CO: Victim in Tuesday’s fatal accident
By pvtimes.com - Kelsey Givens
Published: 04/24/2012

Mentor, leader, humble and respected.

These words describe the victim in Tuesday’s fatal accident in the Pahrump Nugget parking lot.

Lt. Alejandro Gomez, 42, an officer at Nevada Southern Detention Center was all these things and more, including a dedicated husband and loving father.

Gomez died when he was struck by an out of control vehicle driven by a 77-year-old driver named Russell McMorris, who reportedly lost control of his white Chevrolet Blazer during some sort of medical episode.

Friends and co-workers tell the PVT that Gomez had a personality that was contagious.

Detention center Chaplain Adam Gildner said Gomez leaves those he loves with a legacy of kindness.

“They say that to truly measure the goodness of a man, one must look at the legacy he leaves behind. Lt. Gomez was a kind, humble, and soft-spoken man. He was a joy to be around as his humility and positive attitude were contagious. He understood the meaning of servant-leadership, and he definitely led by example,” the chaplain wrote in a statement to the newspaper. “Whether it was at CCA Nevada Southern Detention Center, or in his community, he would help anyone in a time of need — with a cheerful heart and joyous attitude. Nevada Southern Detention Center lost a family member on the morning of April 17th, 2012, and his passing shook us all.

“Lt. Gomez was a friend, a mentor and a brother to us all and he will be greatly missed.”

A memorial in Gomez’s honor has been constructed in the Pahrump Nugget parking lot near where he was struck.

Flowers left by well wishers are protected by police barricades laced together with ropes of yellow caution tape.

It isn’t just fellow co-workers who feel this way about Gomez.

Many members of the community feel the same and several fundraisers have been put together to honor Gomez and raise funds to help support the family he leaves behind.

Today there is a car wash in the Wulfy’s parking lot at 1101 S. State Route 160 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All funds raised from this event will be given to the Gomez family.

On Tuesday there will be a cookout in the parking lot of the Southern Nevada Detention Center, located at 2190 E. Mesquite Road.

Plates are $10 each, and chicken, tri-tip and assorted sides will be served.

The cookout begins at 10 a.m. and will go until 4 p.m. All other donations brought to the event will be gladly accepted.

A spaghetti dinner is also in the works for April 29, but details have not been solidified yet for this event.

The accident that claimed Gomez’s life occurred shortly before 10:17 a.m. Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Pahrump Nugget.

McMorris reportedly lost control of his SUV as he was driving into the casino parking lot, hitting four vehicles as well as running over Gomez.

Gomez and his wife were getting into their vehickle having just left the casino after eating at a restaurant inside.

The force of the collision reportedly knocked Gomez to the ground, where the Blazer then rolled over him as it continued forward.

The Blazer finally came to a stop after rear-ending another car, pushing it up against an outer wall of the Pahrump Nugget on the left side of the building.

In all, McMorris damaged nine vehicles in the parking lot. Two others were damaged shortly after in the same area in another accident.

Nye County Sheriff’s officials said the investigation of Tuesday’s accident is still open and ongoing.

Though that area of the parking lot has been reopened, the memorial remains in Gomez’s honor.

Anyone who has any information about the accident is urged to call the Nye County Sheriff’s Office at 751-7000.

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