KIMBERLY – Swerving to avoid a deer, two members of the Seattle Police Department crashed their motorcycles Saturday morning on Highway 19 in western Grant County. Both were taken for medical treatment.

Steven A. Redmond, 35, of Bothell, Wash., and Kenneth A. Saucier, 39, of Kent, Wash., were northbound on Highway 19 when a deer reportedly ran in front of Redmond. He avoided hitting the deer but drove off of the west shoulder of the highway and over the embankment. Saucier rounded the corner to see Redmond go over the embankment, but was unable to negotiate the curve and also drove off the west shoulder, according to a report from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

Redmond was transported to Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day by Monument Ambulance. Saucier was life-flighted from the scene to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend by Air Life of Oregon. Ambulances from Monument, Dayville and John Day responded to the scene.

The accident, which occurred at milepost 112.5, happened around 11:40 a.m. and was witnessed by ranch hands at the Longview Ranch near Kimberly, the sheriff’s report stated.

Both Redmond and Saucier were traveling with a group of about 15 other motorcycle riders, members of the Blue Knights international motorcycle organization that was traveling through Grant County.

Redmond’s 1999 BMW was totaled, while Saucier’s 2002 Suzuki received extensive damage to the front forks. Frontier Towing of Mount Vernon removed the motorcycles.