Woman in wheelchair struck by sheriff’s vehicle

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A marked sheriff's vehicle hit a woman riding a motorized wheelchair across an Encanto-area intersection today, throwing her onto the roadway and leaving her with apparently minor injuries.

The court-services deputy driving the squad car was making a left turn from southbound 65th Street onto Imperial Avenue on a green light shortly after 8:30 a.m. when her vehicle hit the pedestrian, who was crossing to the north and had the right of way, according to San Diego police.

Medics took the 61-year-old victim to Scripps Mercy Hospital for treatment of a small cut above her left eye and evaluation of complaints of pain, SDPD public-affairs Lt. Kevin Mayer said.

The deputy, who was uninjured, told investigators she had been blinded by the morning sun at the time of the collision. It was unclear if she would be cited over the accident, the lieutenant said.