On New Year’s Day at approximately 10:10am, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on the Mount Rose Highway near Fawn Lane that resulted in a chase and one person being arrested.

Witnesses to the accident and the victim-motorists at the scene provided troopers a description of the errant male driver who fled on foot from the scene.

The driver of a silver BMW 325 sedan, later identified as 38-year-old Ryan D. Simpson of Reno, was traveling west on the four-lane highway and allowed his vehicle to strike the rear of a parked silver Chevrolet Silverado whose occupants were outside of their vehicle assisting another motorist who was installing tire chains on his car, according to officers.

Both vehicles were parked on the right shoulder and were not in the travel lane.

Simpson’s car rotated off of the highway and down a short embankment. The unrestrained motorist sustained several lacerations to his head when his face traveled through a portion of the windshield. None of the motorists who were standing outside of their vehicles were injured and the third vehicle was not struck.

There was an obvious blood trail to follow, but the fleeing subject had a significant start on his trek ahead of troopers and deputies.

A short time later two troopers saw Simpson in a field near a residential area in the vicinity of the Mount Rose Highway. He was taken into custody and an ambulance was immediately summoned. Simpson was taken to the hospital where he was treated and medically discharged for his injuries.

He was transported from the hospital and taken to the Washoe County jail and booked on the following charges:

* DUI alcohol and drugs –second offense

* Failure to use due care while driving

* Duty to give information/stop to render aid

* Hit and run property damage accident

* Failure to report accident to police

* Possession of marijuana, less than 1 ounce

* Possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was in custody this morning with a bail amount of $3,435.