Muller Lane accident follow-up

Only one of five people injured in a two-vehicle collision Saturday at Muller Lane and Highway 395 north of Minden remained hospitalized Monday.

The Lancaster, Calif., resident - identified by the Nevada Highway Patrol as Paul Cushman and by a Washoe Medical Center supervisor as Peggy Cushman - was in the hospital's intensive care unit Monday, the hospital supervisor said.

Another Lancaster resident named Jerry Cushman, identified as a woman by the NHP but as a man by the hospital, was discharged in satisfactory condition Monday night.

The identity of the passengers in the other vehicle also presented somewhat of a challenge. The NHP report identifies them as driver James Banks Jr., 18, and passengers James Banks and Jim Banks, no ages available. All are from Mobile, Ala.

Both Cushmans and Banks Jr. were taken to Washoe Medical Center by helicopter ambulance following the 11:45 a.m. collision Saturday. Banks Jr. was treated and released from the hospital that day, the hospital supervisor said.

James Banks and Jim Banks were taken to Carson-Tahoe Hospital by ground ambulance, according to the NHP report, with the East Fork Fire and Paramedic District's records agreeing. However, hospital records do not show either man being seen at the emergency room Saturday.

According to NHP spokesman Sgt. Tony Almaraz, Banks Jr. was driving a 1995 Ford Pickup eastbound on Muller Lane and had stopped at the stop sign at Highway 395. Almaraz said the Cushmans were headed south in their 1999 Chrysler sedan when Banks Jr. pulled into the highway attempting to make a left turn.

Mr. Cushman, 73, attempted to avoid the pickup by veering left but the Chrysler collided broadside with the Ford, Almaraz said. He said Banks Jr. was cited for failure to yield.