A motorcyclist was flown to St. Marys Hospital in Grand Junction for medical treatment after colliding with a deer Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 491 north of Yellow Jacket, said Pleasant View Fire Chief Jeff Yoder.
An ambulance from Southwest Memorial Hospital happened to be en route to Dove Creek when the accident occurred approximately 6:30 a.m. and was first on scene to assist the motorcyclist, identified only as an approximately 57-year-old man from San Antonio, Texas.
It was very fortunate for the motorcycle rider that Southwest was out there, Yoder said. He had very little down time.
The man was transported by ground to the Cortez hospital. He was flown from Southwest Memorial to St. Marys, where he is in critical condition.
A Colorado State Patrol investigation indicated the deer struck the left side of the motorcycle, causing it to wobble and crash onto its right side, said Sgt. Matt Ozanic. The motorcyclist was ejected and came to a rest in the northbound lane.
The rider was wearing a helmet and traveling approximately 65 mph, Ozanic said.
No further information about Sundays accident was available before deadline Monday. The accident marks the fourth motorcycle accident in August.
A female motorcyclist from Idaho lost a foot and portion of her leg on the same stretch of highway Aug. 20 after colliding with a pickup truck. She is now recovering in a Denver hospital, Ozanic said. The two occupants of the truck were injured when the vehicle over corrected and rolled. Their names and conditions are not being released until the investigation is completed.
Richard E. James, 54, of Mancos, was killed Aug. 5 on the Mesa Verde overpass of U.S. Highway 160 when a sport utility vehicle from California ran a stop sign and struck him broadside. Bronson Hathcock, 19, of Arizona, was treated and released from Southwest Memorial Hospital after crashing his motorcycle Aug. 13 on U.S. Highway 160 at the crest of Mancos Hill.
The Sugar Pine Ranch Motorcycle Rally is scheduled to take place near Mancos this weekend.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com.