Travis Maki

NEVADA APPEAL

November 30, 1997

FREAK ACCIDENT TAKES DEPUTY’S LIFE

ELKO – An Elko County sheriff’s sergeant fell to his death from a freeway overpass early Saturday while helping out at a traffic accident scene, authorities said.

Sheriff Neil Harris said Travis Maki, 32, was placing flares on an Interstate 80 overpass at Deeth, 36 miles east of Elko, when he jumped out of the way of an oncoming truck.

Maki apparently didn’t realize he was on an overpass because of thick fog, and he fell over a concrete wall 65 feet to his death, Harris said. He landed head first and was killed instantly.

Other officers at first thought Maki had been struck by the truck, but a subsequent investigation found he wasn’t hit. Officers searched about 15 minutes before they found his body along railroad tracks below.

Maki was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene of the 2:55 a.m. accident. An eastbound vehicle towing another vehicle jack-knifed on icy I-80 prompting him to put flares on the nearby overpass for traffic control.

December 1, 1997

Sgt. Travis Maki’s death remains a tragic mystery

…Maki is survived by his parents; brother, James Holschlaw of Pahrump, step-sister, Annie Prittchet of Dillion, Mont; one niece; and his girl friend of four years, Mercedes Mendive of Elko.

Plaque Location & Image

South Wall Column 14 Row G     View The Plaque