Collision reminder to all to wear seat belts

MINDEN -- At least one Douglas High School student injured during a head-on collision hopes the accident serves as a lesson to the community about the importance of wearing seat belts.

The accident, on Tuesday at approximately 2:45 p.m., occurred near Dressler Lane and Mud Lake Road in Douglas County. It resulted in injuries to five teenagers, including the grandson of Sen. Lawrence Jacobsen, R-Minden.

Matthew Lawrence Jacobsen, 18, a Douglas High School baseball player, was released from the hospital on Thursday.

In addition to Jacobsen, Thomas Hoyle, Gerald Allen King and Alex Seghieri, all 17 years old, and Scott Sylvester, 16, were hurt.

On Friday, Jacobsen said he was driving to a friend's house to pick up wallets belonging to himself and Hoyle when the accident occurred.

Hoyle and Jacobsen were flown by CareFlight from the crash scene to Washoe Medical Center. Jacobsen said Seghieri was taken by ambulance to the high school, where another CareFlight helicopter was waiting to take him to the Reno hospital.

Jacobsen suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his lower right leg. He said surgeons used one rod and four screws to repair the damage Tuesday night. He also needed five stitches to close a laceration in his forehead.

The Douglas High senior said neither he nor his two teammates were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

"It was stupid not to be wearing a seat belt," Jacobsen said. "It was one of those times when I was in a hurry and just didn't think about it."

Jacobsen's father, Bruce, said Friday afternoon that he, too, has been guilty of not wearing his seat belt on short trips around town. After seeing what happened to Matt and his friends, the elder Jacobsen vowed he'll never make the same mistake again.

"There have been times when I have neglected to wear one in the past," Bruce Jacobsen said. "From now on, that seat belt will be on. I won't get in a car without putting one on and I'm sure Matt has learned a lesson and that he won't get in a car without putting one on. It's just a good reminder for everybody.

"We're just lucky that's all that happened. It sure could have been a lot worse."

Hoyle, a DHS football player, earned all-Sierra League honorable mention this fall at tight end. He was treated and released from the hospital Tuesday.

Both Seghieri and Jacobsen said Friday they are optimistic about playing baseball this spring. The season starts in late February.