SANDPOINT - A Bonner County sheriff's deputy accused of causing a collision that seriously injured two motorcyclists from Priest River is pleading not guilty.

Phyllis Jean Jay is charged with inattentive or careless driving. A pretrial conference in the misdemeanor case is set for Aug. 21.

The charge arose from a May 29 collision at the intersection of U.S. Highway 95 and Sagle Road. Idaho State Police said Jay pulled onto the highway and clipped the rear wheel of a motorcycle carrying two people.

The motorcycle's driver, Rodney Howard, 67, suffered a broken clavicle and ribs after being knocked from his three-wheeled bike. Passenger Catherine Howard, 66, suffered a skull fracture with internal bleeding, according to court documents.

Both riders were wearing helmets and leathers and were expected to recover from their injuries, a state police report said.

"Jay said she was preparing to make a left turn onto south U.S. 95, had looked both directions twice, believed it was clear and proceeded to pull out to make her turn," a senior trooper's report said.

Intoxication was ruled out via urinanalysis, as was sleep deprivation, the report said. Distraction was also ruled out. A department-issued cellphone and laptop, in addition to a personal smartphone, were not being actively used, the report said.

The trooper said Jay, 62, had a minimum line of sight distance of 1,625 feet of northbound highway traffic. The motorcycle's speed was calculated at 39-45 mph. Moreover, the Honda trike would have been visible for a minimum time of 24.6-28.4 seconds based on speed calculations and sight distance.

The trooper listed the contributing circumstance to the collision as inattention.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall moved for the appointment of a special prosecutor due to the sheriff's office working relationship with the prosecutor's office. The move is meant to avoid even an appearance of impropriety or improper exercise of discretion, Marshall said in the motion.