In what has become a tragic yet urgent call to action, the family of David "Augie" Aughinbaugh, an Air Force veteran killed in a collision with a wild burro, has voiced their plea for improved road safety. According to News3LV, the accident occurred on January 2 as Aughinbaugh was riding his motorcycle home from work on US 95.
His wife, Kim Aughinbaugh, has become a fervent advocate for enhanced safety measures along the road, stating in an interview, "There is thousands of people that drive this road day and night, there's got to be some kind of fencing, some kind of lighting." The loss has been profoundly felt by the family with Kim sharing the devastating reality their 13-year-old daughter faces, mourning the future moments her father will miss. Through her tears, dealing with a reality no child should, Kim lamented to News3LV, "I'm struggling pretty bad right now, to look at my 13-year-old daughter when she's crying and telling me her dad's not going to be there for her graduation, he's not going to see her get her driver's license, it's devastating."
Remembered for his jovial and loving nature, Aughinbaugh left behind a legacy distinguished by his dedication to family and country. As reported by 8 News Now, Kimberly Aughinbaugh said, "I will do anything and everything in my power to make sure that his death is not in vain." The bereaved wife and mother pointed out that many high-level military and Department of Energy personnel frequently travel the roadway where the accident occurred, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and infrastructure improvements to prevent future tragedies.
Following the crash that occurred on the southbound U.S. 95 near Snow Mountain, a memorial now stands as a reminder of the site's danger to travelers, especially amidst the dark of the night. The family, while caught in the throes of grief, envisions that David Aughinbaugh's story will engender better desert barriers and safety measures in the area facing an ever-present risk from wandering wildlife. They have established a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and to possibly aid in their advocacy for safer roads. In respectful memory of a man who deeply loved animals, it is worth noting, Kimberly Aughinbaugh added, that her husband would have been deeply saddened by the fate of the burro involved in the crash as well.
While the Nevada State Police continue their investigation into the crash, as originally reported by Hoodline, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by wildlife on rural highways. The collision, claiming the life of a man remembered as a beacon in the lives of his loved ones, now ignites the push for a safer stretch of desert roadway, mirroring the light Augie brought into a room, now projected onto a path for change.
