Deputy injured in collision

A Carson sheriff's deputy suffered minor injuries Thursday when he collided with a car while on motorcycle patrol.

Deputy Kurt Davis, 45, was driving his motorcycle west on College Parkway between Emerson Drive and Hot Springs Road at about 11:30 a.m. when a late-model Ford Tempo, driven by Dayton resident Debra Austin, allegedly pulled out of a driveway and crossed in front of him. Davis skidded into the driver's side of the car.

After the accident Davis was awake and talking to emergency personnel at the scene, but suffered damage to his right shoulder, knee and cut his right arm, said Chief Deputy Bernie Curtis. He was placed on a backboard and transported to the Carson Tahoe Hospital emergency room where he was treated and released.

Witness Tom Borst said the motorcycle appeared to lose traction prior to the impact.

"The motorcycle got squirrely, slid down and came up into the side of the car," he said.

The motorcycle ended its 20-foot skid upright against the driver's side of the Tempo. The driver, shaken by the crash, exited through the passenger's side with help from emergency personnel. The impact of the crash dented the driver's side door and the surrounding panels and shattered the motorcycles lights and bent the metal frame.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers are handling the investigation, which is standard procedure when a sheriff's deputy is in an accident, said Curtis. Austin was cited by NHP for failure to yield.

A similar crash in Carson two months ago sent Deputy Mike Cullen, 32, to Washoe Medical Center via Care Flight after his motorcycle collided with a white sedan. He was released later in the day.