M.V. Mourns Local Teen Killed In Auto Accident

By Stephanie Bunker

Moapa Valley Progress

A vehicle accident on Airport Road in Overton claimed the life of one local teen on Tuesday, January 15. Moapa Valley High School junior Tristan Ables, 17, was killed in the accident which took place after school was out on the roadway just west of the runway at Perkins Field Airport.

Ables was driving in a Ford F250 pickup truck. Two other teenage boys: Cayden Waldroup, and Wyatt Wright; were riding in the truck with him.

According to Metro officials the group left Moapa Valley High School at around 1:00 pm and traveled down Airport Road towards Overton. The truck drifted off the road to the right into a soft sandy shoulder. Ables apparently overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. The truck to rolled over and came to rest finally on the roof of the vehicle. All three of the boys were reported to be wearing their seatbelts.

Metro officials said that studies were ongoing as to the cause of the accident and whether or not speed played a factor.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident. but drivers travelling in front and behind the truck were witnesses to the accident which was reported at 1:12 pm.

Waldroup and Wright were both able to exit the vehicle without serious injuries. They were both released into the care of their parents to seek medical attention as needed.

Due to vehicle damage, Ables was stuck in the cab of the truck. Witnesses at the scene said that Ables was conscious and talking early on. But he soon lapsed into unconsciousness and died at the scene.

Officials at the Clark County Coroners office stated that the cause of death was blunt force injury to the head and torso with a case of positional asphyxia, a condition when a person’s position prevents him/her from breathing adequately. Witnesses confirmed that Ables had been jammed tightly into the twisted cab of the truck. It took special equipment brought in by local emergency rescue teams to extract him from the vehicle.

A vigil was held that evening at the Moapa Valley High School in the cafeteria where friends of Ables gathered to mourn the loss.

MVHS Principal Grant Hanevold spoke to the students in attendance assuring them they are all good kids as was Ables.

“This valley has seen tragedy and we have risen every single time to the tragedy,” Hanevold said. “It makes us stronger.”

Kim Delgadillo representing Ables family members of St. Johns Catholic Church read comforting words to the students.

“He will never be gone from our hearts,” she said.

Upon hearing the news of Ables’ death, MVHS student McKay Wilson wrote a song to express her feelings. Wilson played the guitar and sang the touching song at the vigil.

Hanevold then opened the time up to any students that felt the need to express their thoughts or feelings. Many of Ables’ friends took the opportunity to tell of his happy and energetic personality.

Many family, friends and acquaintances attended the funeral services which were held on Friday at St. Johns Catholic Church.