CRASH CRITICALLY INJURES DEPUTY : 2ND LAWMAN INJURED SLIGHTLY.

Byline: Daily News Staff Writer

Two sheriff's deputies were injured, one critically, when the patrol car they were driving was hit Thursday by a car driven by an 82-year-old Lancaster woman.

Deputies Jack Dawson and Allen Mullins were heading west on Avenue I near 10th Street West shortly before 12:30 p.m. when their car was hit by a Ford Torino driven by Agnes Brum, who made a left turn directly into the path of the deputies' car.

``The deputies tried to take evasive action, but the Ford struck the left rear of the radio car, causing the radio car to go out of control,'' Sgt. Darrel Brown said.

The patrol car slid about 40 feet before hitting a signal pole at the northwest corner of the intersection of 10th Street West and Avenue I, Brown said.

Dawson, who was the passenger in the right front seat was ejected and trapped between the radio car and a brick planter, Brown said. All four tires of the car blew out.

``Employees from a gas station came to his aid and helped free him by utilizing a jack,'' Brown said.

The gas station workers rendered aid to both deputies until paramedics and responding deputies arrived, officials said.

It was unclear if the deputies were wearing seat belts, said Deputy Marty Shearer, and officials had not determined if Brum would be cited.

Dawson suffered head injuries and a compound fracture of the left leg and was airlifted to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills where he was reported to be in critical condition.

Mullins was taken by ambulance to Antelope Valley Hospital where he was treated for bruises and released, hospital officials said.

Brum, the sole occupant in her car, was not injured, deputies said.

At the time of the accident, Dawson and Mullins were in a black and white patrol car responding to a report of a stolen vehicle, Brown said.

Dawson and Mullins, both nine-year veterans, are part of the High Impact Community Oriented Policing and Services Program for the Quartz Hill area, a community crime fighting operation begun by the Sheriff's Department in September 1995.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1--Color only in AV edition) An injured sheriff's deputy is taken to an ambulance after his patrol car was involved in a crash on Avenue I near 10th Street West.

(2--Ran in AV edition only--Color) Sheriff's officials inspect the patrol car involved in Thursday's crash. A vehicle driven by a Lancaster woman reportedly made a left turn directly into the path of the deputies' car.

(3--Ran in AV edition only) Deputy Jack Dawson is put in a helicopter which took him to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

David R. Crane/Daily News