Senator’s aide dies in Reno crash

The state senior adviser for U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who spoke at an event the day before in Fallon, was killed early Saturday in a two-vehicle crash in southeast Reno.

Kurt Englehart, 38, died at the scene according to the Reno Police Department.

The crash occurred Saturday about 4:27 a.m. at Kietzke and Peckham lanes. The other vehicle that struck Englehart left the scene, but police later found the vehicle and its occupants. Officers arrested 18-year-old Elmer Rueda-Linares. He is charged on a felony charge of hit-and-run causing death.

Englehart was one of the speakers at this month’s Child Abuse and Prevention ceremony at Millennium Park. He noted the senator has worked extensively with legislation dealing child abuse on human trafficking, domestic violence and child abuse prevention.

“A large part of her legislative accomplishments are all around this issue area,” he said. “As someone who is a product of child abuse growing up, I kind of naturally gravitated toward her from her work as an AG (attorney general) to now as a senator.

Since 2017, Englehart, a native of Ohio who graduated from Muskingum University in 2015, had been at aide for Cortez Masto, serving in various roles. He was appointed the state senior adviser/rural outreach director in March 2023.

“Paul and I and our entire team are heartbroken to learn of my longtime staffer Kurt Englehart’s death,” the senator said in a statement released Saturday. “For the past eight years, Kurt proudly served in both my campaign and official offices. A beloved figure across the state, Kurt was always eager to help a constituent at a moment’s notice. He touched many lives, and I know almost everyone in Northern Nevada has a great story about Kurt helping them or making them laugh. Kurt was a dedicated public servant, a loyal friend and a loving father.”

Englehart was no stranger to Churchill County and had developed relationships with the city of Fallon and Churchill County, Naval Air Station Fallon and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. He had also developed a strong working bond with the Walker River Paiute Tribe.

“It is so tragic and makes me very sad,” said Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford. “He was a fine young man, and I enjoyed speaking with him.”

Before his appointment to the most current position, Englehart was the senator’s political director for rural Nevada and the regional representative for the rural Northern Nevada. Prior to joining the senator’s staff, Englehart was a Senate Finance Committee assistant for the Nevada Legislature for six months. He also held several positions as a regional organizing director, rural caucus organizer for Northern Nevada and caucus organizer for Washoe County.

A GoFundme to help the family is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/kurt-engleharts-family.