COBB — Emergency personnel responded to an injured motorcyclist near Cobb Mountain Elementary School Friday morning after a deer reportedly ran into the man”s motorcycle.
Mike Dickson, who is in his late 40s, was traveling approximately 45 to 50 mph westbound on Highway 175 about one-half mile west of the school at 9:45 a.m. when a deer ran across the road in front of the motorcycle, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
As Dickson slowed for the first deer, a younger second deer entered the road, tried to jump over the motorcycle but collided with the bike and driver, throwing Dickson off and knocking the vehicle over, the CHP said.
The second deer “literally broadsided the guy on the motorcycle,” according to Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero, who witnessed the incident.
Rivero said he was traveling behind the motorcycle when he saw the second deer try to leap across the road but instead hit the motorcyclist. “It was almost surreal seeing that deer jumping into the air and hitting the guy on the motorcycle.”
Rivero reported that the younger deer was significantly injured and posing a danger to approaching traffic, forcing him to put down the deer at the scene.
Dickson suffered major injuries, most significant of which was a broken collarbone, the CHP said. He was transported by ambulance to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
One-way traffic control was in effect at the scene for nearly 40 minutes, the CHP said. The incident remains under CHP investigation by Officer Garcia.
