Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Carson City firefighters used the Jaws of Life to cut Molly Dondero, 59, out of her vehicle Thursday following an accident at Stewart and Fifth streets. She was taken by helicopter to a Reno hospital.
A Carson City woman was seriously injured Thursday afternoon in an accident witnessed by several people, including Nevada's lieutenant governor.
Molly Dondero, 59, was flown by helicopter to a Reno hospital following the 12:16 p.m. wreck at Stewart and Fifth streets.
According to Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who was waiting at the southbound light, Dondero was eastbound with a green light on Fifth Street when an orange half-ton van driven by Michael Simoni, 44, ran the southbound stoplight.
The van struck the driver's door of Dondero's sedan knocking her unconscious.
The collision spun and flipped her vehicle, which then rolled backward over a curb, across grass and off the curb in the eastbound lanes.
Krolicki was among about five other witnesses who jumped out of their own vehicles and ran to try to help both Simoni and Dondero.
Witness Mike Legatzke said he was sitting in the right hand, northbound lane waiting for Dondero to pass so he could make a left hand turn behind her, when the accident occurred.
"I saw her immediately slump over the wheel. She was knocked right out," Legatzke said. "He broadsided her. He ran the light full speed."
Krolicki said he spoke to Simoni, who was stunned but appeared unhurt.
"In his defense, he did say something about his brakes not working," said the admittedly shaken lieutenant governor. "But she was definitely the victim."
Traffic was rerouted from the area for about two hours until crews could clear the wreckage.
Simoni will likely be cited.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.