In the quiet, pre-dawn hours of July 31, 2025, a devastating collision shattered the stillness along Interstate 15, just 11 miles south of Mesquite, Nevada. The life of 22-year-old William Rance Bill, a vibrant young man from St. George, Utah, was tragically cut short in a crash that has left a community in mourning and underscored the critical importance of road safety.
The incident unfolded around 6:45 a.m. near mile marker 106, where the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to reports of a collision in a southbound construction zone. William, driving a 2022 Kia Forte, was traveling in the left lane when his vehicle struck a 2024 Isuzu NPR-HD cone truck. The construction vehicle, parked between the left shoulder and the leftmost lane, had its warning lights and direction board activated, signaling roadwork in progress. The truck’s driver was outside, diligently setting up safety signs, unaware of the impending tragedy.
According to the Nevada State Police, William failed to adhere to Nevada’s “move over” law, a critical regulation designed to protect highway workers and emergency personnel by requiring drivers to slow down and shift lanes when approaching vehicles with active warning lights. The left front of William’s Kia collided with the right rear of the Isuzu, resulting in catastrophic consequences. William was pronounced dead at the scene, his life extinguished in an instant. A passenger in the sedan, whose identity remains undisclosed, was airlifted to a local hospital with injuries of unknown severity, leaving authorities and loved ones awaiting further updates.
The crash, which forced the closure of all southbound lanes of Interstate 15 for several hours, caused significant traffic disruptions as vehicles were diverted via State Route 170 at Exit 112. Emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and Nevada Highway Patrol officers, worked tirelessly at the scene, managing the chaos while investigators began piecing together the events leading to the collision. The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide Unit is now conducting a thorough investigation, examining factors such as driver behavior, road conditions, and visibility to determine the precise cause of this heart-wrenching incident.
This tragedy marks the 37th fatal crash investigated by the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol’s Southern Command in 2025, contributing to a somber toll of 38 lives lost on Nevada’s roads this year. The loss of William Rance Bill has reverberated far beyond the crash site, deeply affecting his family, friends, and the tight-knit St. George community. A GoFundMe campaign, organized by William’s brother, Tatum Bill, has raised over $11,000 toward a $13,000 goal to support memorial services, reflecting the outpouring of love and support for a young man described as full of life and promise. A memorial service held on August 5 brought together those who cherished William, honoring his memory and grappling with the profound void left by his absence.
William’s story serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the critical need for vigilance on the road, particularly in construction zones where workers and drivers alike face heightened risks. Nevada’s “move over” law, designed to safeguard those who maintain and protect our highways, stands at the heart of this tragedy, prompting renewed calls for drivers to exercise caution and compliance to prevent future heartbreak.
As the investigation continues, the memory of William Rance Bill endures in the hearts of those who knew him—a young man taken far too soon, whose life and loss will forever resonate in the community he called home.