Motorcycles collide killing one, injuring 3

Tragedy came on the heels of a fund-raiser Sunday, when motorcyclists returning to Silver Springs were involved in an accident at Highway 50 and La Fond Avenue in Mark Twain. One died and three were injured.

Katherine Benitez, 60, of Silver Springs was a passenger on the back of a Harley Davidson in rear of a formation of five. The two center bikes bumped and crashed and the bike she was on ran into the wreckage. According to her husband Joe, the two bikes became tangled and went down, "And the guy behind them couldn't avoid the debris," he said. Mrs. Benitez died at the scene. Three bikes were involved in the accident.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dean Reynolds said two care-flight helicopters transported two patients to Washoe Medical Center and a third drove himself to Carson-Tahoe Hospital. Carson-Tahoe emergency room staff was unable to give any information on the condition of that patient.

Reynolds said the call came in about 5:55 pm and when he arrived on scene, Mrs. Benitez was still alive. She subsequently died at that location of her injuries.

Benitez said they had just entered the highway from Six Mile Canyon Road after a fund-raiser at Deer Run Bar and Grill for 6-year-old Megan Clark, when the accident occurred. Benitez was carrying another passenger and his wife was riding on the back of a friend's bike. He said medical personnel on the scene told him his wife died of head trauma.

Identities of the injured were unavailable at press time.