Man jailed in Virginia City motorcycle wreck

Darin T. Simmons

Darin T. Simmons

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A California man was jailed in Storey County on a drunken driving charge after he reportedly wrecked his bike Saturday on Geiger Grade, seriously injuring his passenger.

Darin T. Simmons, 45, of Cathedral City, Calif., was booked into the Storey County Jail on suspicion of felony drunken driving causing injury or death. 

According to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen, Simmons was piloting his 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle north on State Route 341 when he lost control in a turn near Lousetown Road, crossed the lanes and struck a guardrail.

Both Simmons and passenger Yolanda Medina, 57, of Modesto, Calif., were thrown from the bike, said Allen.

Medina suffered an open fracture of her right forearm, open fracture of her right hand and several fractured ribs. Simmons suffered "road rash" on his elbow, according to the report.

Allen said Simmons had just met Medina at the Street Vibrations celebration in Virginia City and was giving her a ride to Reno when the accident happened.

According to the NHP report, Simmons smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test. His blood-alcohol content is pending the results of a blood test.

Simmons was booked into the Storey County Jail on $30,000 bail and his bike was towed into evidence.

Medina was taken to a Reno hospital.

Thousands of motorcyclists poured into Northern Nevada for the annual Street Vibrations rally.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reports there were 84 crashes between Wednesday and Sunday. None of the wrecks on state highways were fatal.

Troopers arrested 23 motorists during the five-day span, including 16 people on suspicion of drunken driving.

But while state highways were fatality free last weekend, a motorcyclist was killed on a Reno street early Friday morning when he lost control on North Hills Boulevard in North Reno.

Frederick Dulay, 48, of Reno, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Reno Police Department.

Speed and inattention appear to be contributing factors, said Officer Tom Mueller.

The Reno Police Department is asking anyone who saw the accident or have information regarding it to contact them at the Traffic division 334-2141 or Secret Witness 322-4900.

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