Nevada Fire Crew Leader Killed
BATTLE MOUNTAIN - A Nevada Division of Forestry firefighter crew supervisor died in an all-terrain vehicle wreck Friday afternoon.
Audie Lee Cross, 44, of Carlin died from blunt force trauma after the four-wheeler he was driving flipped on top of him, said Lander County Sheriff Ron Unger.
Cross was working with his 12-man Carlin Conservation Camp fire crew about 10 miles south of Battle Mountain on a fence-building project, said NDF Regional Forester William Wolf.
The details of the crash are under investigation by the Lander County Sheriff's Department, an internal NDF team, Occupational Safety and Health of Nevada and other regulatory agencies.
Unger said the inmate crew contacted 9-1-1. Along with other emergency personnel, a mine rescue team assisted at the scene.
NDF State Forester/Firewarden Pete Anderson arrived in Elko Friday night to oversee the investigation and comfort Cross's family.
Cross is survived by his wife, Lori, and their seven children.
Anderson said he is "deeply saddened by this accident," and he offered his "sincere sympathies to the family, and will provide any assistance to our fellow employees and the inmates touched by this death."
Cross had been employed with NDF since 1999 and resided in Carlin.
Prior to going to work with NDF he spent time in agricultural and ranching occupations.
NDF will be assisting with the establishment of a memorial account to help with the family and related expenses.in ATV wreck.
Funeral Arrangements:
Services for Firefighter Crew Supervisor Audie Cross will be held Friday, June, 10, 2005, 10:00a.m.
Cowboy Church on the Elko County Fairgrounds, 1090 13th Street, Elko, Nevada. The Audie Cross Memorial Fund is set up at the Bank of America. 605 Idaho Street Elko, Nevada 89801 (775)738-7203