Special to the PVT Brandy Fuller died Wednesday morning in a pre-dawn crash on Bell Vista Road. HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT The driver, John Whitehead of Pahrump, left, is taken into custody at the scene. Advertisement

Brandy Fuller, 18, of Pahrump, was killed in violent car accident here before dawn Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Fuller was one of eight passengers in a Ford Explorer that overturned and crashed into a wall outside a residence on Bell Vista Road near Cabo Street at approximately 4:30 a.m. No other vehicles were involved, and there apparently were no eyewitnesses outside the vehicle.

The Explorer was driven by John Whitehead, 18, of Pahrump.

Whitehead, who apparently was driving while under the influence of alcohol, is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, overturning it at least once before the full-sized SUV crashed into a wall and came to rest on its roof.

Whitehead was released from Pahrump Fire Rescue Services into police custody at the scene and subsequently arrested. He is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, DUI and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

Whitehead initially told authorities that one passenger had fled the scene because he or she was sought on outstanding arrests warrants. Whitehead has since chosen to retain the services of an attorney and has not spoken further to authorities about the matter.

The Nye County Sheriff's Office has not received any information from other authorities or hospitals about the allegedly missing passenger and has no one else in custody at this time. However, Capt. Bill Becht said they believe there were eight people in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Nevada Highway Patrol, which was also at the scene, did not return repeated calls for information.

The Pahrump Valley Fire Department was dispatched to the scene as soon as the accident was reported and rescue services were administered.

All passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees, from severe to walking wounded.

Five patients were taken to the Desert View Regional Hospital, where the helipad was used as a triage center.

Mercy Air dispatched three helicopters to the scene.

Mercy Air 21 of Pahrump made two separate trips, and Mercy Air 11 out of Boulder City and Mercy Air 7 each transported patients as well, with one of the helicopters taking two patients. All patients were taken to the trauma center at UMC in Las Vegas.