A.V. DEPUTY BREAKS LEG AS HIS CRUISER HITS CAR.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A sheriff's deputy underwent surgery Thursday for injuries he suffered in a crash while on his way to a routine call of children playing with firecrackers, sheriff's officials said.

Deputy Lloyd Teel's leg was broken when his patrol car hit broadside a 1989 Cadillac Fleetwood that pulled out in front of him at 60th Street East and Avenue R-8, deputies said.

``(The other motorist's) statement was that the deputies were coming too fast,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Scott Brickert. ``Witnesses said (the motorist) appeared to stop and then entered into the intersection.''

The other motorist, Ali Shahmirzai, 18, of Glendale was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Teel, 51, remained at Antelope Valley Hospital in fair condition.

Officials said Shahmirzai stopped at a stop sign on 60th Street East at Avenue R-8 at 5 p.m. Thursday, then pulled out. Teel, followed by a deputy in another car, was driving west on Avenue R-8, which does not have a stop sign, deputies said.

The patrol car then hit the Cadillac broadside. Deputies said Teel's car was traveling between 40 and 50 mph in a 55-mph zone.

``They had just finished one routine call and were on their way to another routine call,'' Brickert said. ``They were on their way to a `juveniles lighting firecrackers' call.''