Two drivers in Reid’s motorcade cited in I-15 crash

By Brian Nordli

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 | 10 p.m.

A U.S. government vehicle in Sen. Harry Reid’s motorcade triggered a chain-reaction accident that affected six cars and sent the majority leader to a local emergency room last week.

The Nevada Highway Patrol accident report released Thursday indicated that the federal vehicle driven by Michael Percival was traveling too close behind the SUV transporting Reid on Interstate 15 northbound near Sahara Avenue about 1:10 p.m. Friday. When the SUV carrying Reid and two other passengers slowed due to traffic, Percival swerved right and struck a vehicle not in the caravan.

The report stated that a Metro Police pickup truck in the motorcade was also at fault for following Percival too closely. The truck, driven by Cory Mikkelson, hit the left-side bumper of the Percival vehicle and then the vehicle carrying Reid.

The collision sent Reid’s vehicle rotating counterclockwise, where it struck the lead motorcade vehicle and then was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Reid, 72, was taken to University Medical Center, where he was treated for a bruised hip and ribs and was released later that day.

Percival received a citation for an unsafe lane change, while Mikkelson received a citation for following too closely, the report stated.