Two officers receive minor injuries in U.S. 95 accident

Two Metro Police motorcycle officers received minor injuries after a car veered into them on U.S. 95 Wednesday afternoon.

The two officers were headed southbound in the far left lane between the Valley View Boulevard and Rancho Drive exits at about 3 p.m., when a Ford Mustang veered into the lane, striking the officers.

Dave Robbins, 40, and Joe Schmitt, 37, were taken to University Medical Center and treated for minor injuries, department spokesman officer Steve Meriwether said. One of the officers suffered a broken arm and the other had cuts and abrasions, Sgt. Tracy McDonald said.

Traffic started slowing as cars came around the curve at Valley View and headed toward Rancho, McDonald said.

Miriam Cerise, the 23-year-old driver of the Mustang, veered into the left lane where the officers were, in order to avoid hitting a slowing car ahead of her, police said.

The Mustang hit both motorcycles, sending one officer flying over the top of the car, and pinning the other officer between the car and the center median, breaking his arm, McDonald said.

Tony Osiecki witnessed the accident and estimated that traffic was moving at about 40 mph when the Mustang hit the officers.

Alma Martinez, who was the passenger in the Mustang, said the car in front of her and Cerise slammed on its breaks, and that her cousin lost control of the Mustang as she tried to avoid hitting the car ahead of them.

Police are still investigating the accident, and have not yet cited Cerise, detective Bill Redfairn said.

Both Robbins and Schmitt have 13 years of experience with Metro, Meriwether said.

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