LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — An 81-year-old man died after his motorcycle crashed on an eastbound 215 flyover ramp Saturday evening, Nevada State Police say.

The Nevada Highway Patrol responded to the crash at approximately 5:16 p.m. on the eastbound 215 to I-11 northbound flyover on-ramp in Clark County.

According to NHP, a black 2018 Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle was traveling eastbound on the flyover ramp in the number one travel lane.

The rider failed to negotiate a curve and traveled right, entering the shoulder and striking a concrete traffic barrier. The motorcycle overturned and the rider was ejected.

William Keith Kolb was transported from the scene to a local area hospital in critical condition and later died that evening from injuries sustained in the crash, police say.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Southern Command has investigated 26 fatal crashes resulting in 29 fatalities so far this year.

As part of the ongoing America250 commemoration, the Nevada State Museum, Carson City will celebrate the grand opening of its newest exhibition, “RIVETING AMERICA: Bringing Together Fabrication, Fashion, and People,” on Thursday, May 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m., featuring a special guest presentation by Tracey Panek, historian and director of archives for Levi Strauss & Co.

Located in the “Our Nevada Stories” gallery, the new exhibition explores how everyday objects and the people who used them helped shape Nevada and the American West, highlighting the innovation, resilience, and labor that built industries ranging from mining and ranching to farming and manufacturing. Through artifacts and historic objects, the exhibition examines the untold stories behind the tools, technologies, and working hands that contributed to Nevada’s development and America’s industrial growth.

Panek, who oversees the archives at Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters in San Francisco, is widely recognized for her work preserving and interpreting the nearly 175-year history of one of America’s most iconic heritage brands. During the opening event, she will discuss the importance of corporate archives, the cultural evolution of denim, and the enduring influence of Levi Strauss & Co. on American identity and fashion.

As historian for Levi Strauss & Co., Panek manages the company’s archives as a key corporate asset, supporting designers, executives, and brand teams while also acquiring rare vintage Levi’s garments and historical artifacts. She is also a contributor to the company’s “Unzipped” blog and narrator of the “From the Levi’s Archives” video series across YouTube and TikTok.

“RIVETING AMERICA reflects the stories of the workers, makers and innovators who helped build Nevada and shape the American experience,” said Jen Roger (roh-JAY), Director of Nevada State Museum, Carson City. “As we commemorate America250, this exhibition offers an opportunity to reflect on the ingenuity, resilience, and craftsmanship that helped define both our state and our nation. Having Tracey Panek join us for the exhibit opening brings an exciting and culturally relevant perspective to those conversations, particularly through the lens of a brand like Levi Strauss & Co., which remains deeply connected to American history while continuing to evolve with modern culture.”

The exhibition highlights how objects left behind by past generations provide tangible evidence of Nevada’s history, from Indigenous basket weaving and agriculture to mining, ranching, and industrial labor. Each artifact featured throughout the exhibit reflects themes of creativity, resilience, and hard work that continue to define both Nevada and the broader American story.

The grand opening event is open to the public and is complimentary to attend with museum admission. Additional information about the exhibition is available on the Nevada State Museum, Carson City website.

About Nevada State Museum, Carson City

Located in downtown Carson City inside the historic former U.S. Mint building, the Nevada State Museum brings the story of the Silver State to life through immersive exhibits, historic artifacts, and hands-on experiences. It is located at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.carsonnvmuseum.org.

Related

As the Trump administration continues its push to secure critical minerals like lithium, the U.S. government and private corporations have ignored Indigenous peoples’ rights in Nevada. That’s according to a report released today by Amnesty International, which is calling for the suspension of federal permits for all lithium mines in the state. 

The Silver State has emerged as a key source of lithium, the main component in electric vehicle and other batteries. About 85 percent of the country’s known reserves are in Nevada, and several Indigenous nations and organizations, alongside environmentalists, have been fighting for years against its extraction and the environmental risks that creates, including water contamination and biodiversity loss. “This is our land,” said Fermina Stevens, a member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone and the executive director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project. “We should have a say in what happens. But I know that they don’t want us there because Nevada is so rich in all of these minerals.” 

The three projects Amnesty International highlights in its report are Thacker Pass Lithium Mine, Nevada North Lithium Project, and Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project. Each is located primarily on public land that the Western Shoshone and Paiute people consider unceded territory. Thacker Pass is under construction and Rhyolite Ridge is slated to begin construction this year, while Nevada North is in the exploratory phase. 

Amnesty International’s report says all three are violating Indigenous peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consent. That principle, known as FPIC, is an international standard that affirms Indigenous peoples’ right to approve or deny projects that impact their land and communities. Although the projects were approved by federal agencies, Amnesty International argues the review processes fell short of FPIC and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP.

“They’ve got to come down on the right side,” Mark Dummett, the organization’s head of business and human rights, said of the mining companies. “They’ve got to come down on the side of human rights, rather than getting the minerals at all costs.” He added that, regardless of domestic laws in the countries in which they operate, these firms must follow international human rights standards. The report also highlights the impact of the Trump administration’s push for deregulation, including fast-tracked permits and limited environmental review, which reduces the ability of Indigenous peoples to offer full consent. 

In a statement, a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Interior said, “The climate crazed activists behind this report are notorious for making baseless claims, repeatedly rejected by courts, as part of their pathetic rage against energy production that is not only bipartisan, but proven to benefit the American people.” They also said that a review of lithium projects in Nevada by the federal Bureau of Land Management included extensive environmental review and opportunity for tribal engagement.

Nevada is experiencing a lithium boom that has seen more than 20,000 claims filed. The report also comes amid global resistance by Indigenous peoples to “green transition” mining that they say comes at the expense of their land and rights. Given the increasing demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper, Dummett said that mining companies around the world are taking advantage of gaps in regulation and human rights enforcement. “The way that this mining has always taken place has been incredibly damaging to the environment and people,” Dummett said. “We don’t want to see the mistakes of the past repeated.”

Stevens said that although her people have experienced a long history of land theft and abuse by the U.S. government and corporations, consultation has grown even more perfunctory amid the worldwide drive for lithium, which has surged since the war in Iran. “War and the military complex is all that they can see,” she said. “And so they’re blinded to the things that are sacred, that are more important for human survival. And I just don’t think that they care about those things.”

Lithium Americas, the owner of the Thacker Pass mine, disputed many of the report’s claims in a response submitted to Amnesty International, including inadequate consultation, environmental risks, and violation of Indigenous rights. Its reply also noted that UNDRIP is not binding in the United States, but argued that the project complies with it anyway. “The Thacker Pass Project has the potential to significantly advance America’s electrification efforts, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals — strengthening America’s energy future. LAC has made stakeholder engagement, including with Tribes, an important part of the development of the Project,” its response reads.  

A spokesperson for Ioneer, the owner of the Rhyolite Ridge project, said the company “respectfully but firmly disagrees with the findings released by Amnesty International,” and highlighted the company’s engagement with tribes. “We take great pride in our compliance with all U.S. legal requirements and remain committed to a transparent process that respects tribal sovereignty while delivering a reliable and secure domestic supply of critical minerals,” the spokesperson said.

Surge and Evolution, the owners of the Nevada North Lithium Project, did not respond to a request for comment, but in a response to Amnesty International, Evolution said, “We take all reasonable efforts to conduct proactive and ongoing engagement with Indigenous peoples.”

Indigenous leaders said they do not expect the mining companies to change, but will continue the fight to protect their land. “We can survive without technology, but we can’t survive without water,” Stevens said. “We can’t save the Earth through the energy transition while we’re simultaneously destroying biodiversity.”