By JON BAKER

LINCOLN  ---  Police Chief Brian Sullivan has played some kind of role in this department for over a quarter-century, but even he admitted this to be a rather bizarre accident.

Though details are sketchy, here goes: David Case, a 51-year-old East Providence resident, had been operating his motorcycle northbound on Lonsdale Avenue at about 5:20 a.m., Wednesday when a deer apparently hustled across the roadway and struck his 1993 Harley Davidson “Softail Classic” model.
According to Patrolman Thomas O’Brien’s report, he spoke with Case, who was conscious and alert but complained of a possible broken ankle. O’Brien also stated that the deer had struck his two-wheeler, causing him “to lose control and lay the bike down” in front of 1175 Lonsdale Ave.
The officer immediately called the Rescue 4 unit, which transported Case to Rhode Island Hospital.
“From what I’ve been told, the guy was OK, having suffered minimal injuries,” Sullivan said Thursday afternoon. “I heard from the Saylesville Fire Department, and it’s unclear if the deer struck him or he struck the deer. I guess the deer got up, grunted at (Case) and ran into the woods.
“I’ve heard of deer-car accidents, but a deer-motorcycle accident? That’s pretty unusual,” he added. “The good news is the guy was OK.”
The health of the cycle and the animal was unknown.