SAGLE - Two motorcyclists from Priest River were injured Friday when they were struck by a Bonner County sheriff deputy's sport utility vehicle on U.S. Highway 95.

Idaho State Police said Sgt. Phyllis J. Jay was turning onto the highway from Sagle Road when she crashed her Chevrolet Tahoe into a northbound motorcycle carrying two people.

Rodney F. Howard lost control of his Honda three-wheeled motorcycle and was ejected onto the highway. A passenger on the bike, Catherine J. Howard, also was ejected, state police said.

Rodney Howard, 67, and Catherine Howard, 66, were taken to Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene. Catherine Howard was in critical condition and Rodney Howard was in fair condition, said Lisa Aitken, Kootenai Health's community relations coordinator.

Both Howards were wearing helmets, according to state police.

Jay, 62, was not injured in the collision. She was wearing a seat belt, ISP said.

State police said the crash remains under investigation.

The crash occurred shortly before 9 a.m. and caused the highway to be closed for several hours. A Life Flight Network helicopter responded to the scene and a landing zone was established on the highway, a Bonner County EMS call log indicates.

Jay, as a matter of procedure, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the ISP crash investigation, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Jay is a process server in the department's civil division and a former detective.

Friday's crash marked the second time this year a sheriff's deputy has been involved in a serious traffic collision on U.S. 95.

Deputy Alex Hughes, 29, was seriously injured when a tractor-trailer crashed into his Chevy Tahoe on U.S. 95 in Careywood on Jan. 20.

State police said Hughes was southbound when he executed a U-turn and was struck by a southbound tractor trailer. An improper turn and inattention are listed as contributing circumstances in the crash, according to an Idaho Vehicle Collision Report.

There is no record of Hughes being cited in connection with the collision, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository.