A Fernley man with two previous drunken driving convictions remained in custody Monday following a Saturday accident in Dayton.
Michael M. Mackey, 54, was eastbound on Highway 50 East when he made a left turn onto Riverboat Road in Dayton about 6:20 p.m.
Mackey failed to yield to a westbound 2001 Saturn sedan driven by Rina A. Barnfield, 48, of Fernley, according to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen.
The two vehicles collided head on and Mackey allegedly fled from the scene on foot.
Storey County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Burkholder said he was on his way home from work when he came upon the accident and saw a man running away.
"I went over to check the accident first to see if there were any injuries ... other people who were already on the scene said they'd already called for medical attention. Then they told me the other person had fled the scene after the accident," said Burkholder.
Burkholder said he went back toward the Maverick Gas Station where he had seen the person running.
"More people told me what he was wearing and what direction he'd gone," the off-duty deputy said he could see a silhouette near Occidental Square, so he headed off into the sagebrush. Once he got close enough he allegedly found Mackey injured and sitting next to an electrical box.
"At that time I identified myself, and he was compliant with me and walked with me back to the scene," said Burkholder.
Barnfield was seriously injured in the accident. Rescuers had to cut her from the wreckage and she was taken from the scene by helicopter, said Allen. She still was in the hospital Monday.
Mackey also was taken to the hospital where he was treated and then released to the custody of the Nevada Highway Patrol.
He is being held in the Lyon County Jail on suspicion of felony third-offense DUI causing substantial bodily harm, failure to yield making a left turn, hit-and-run injury accident, driving on a revoked driver's license, driving a vehicle with suspended registration, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to report an accident, failure to render aid to accident victim, driving without proof of insurance and a misdemeanor warrant out of Reno Township Justice Court for failure to comply.
Bail is set at $50,000.
