Puckett Injured in Accident

Former Minnesota Twin star Kirby Puckett suffered cuts on his arm and head in a one-vehicle rollover accident in Mounds View, Minn.

Puckett was held overnight for observation at Fairview-Southdale Hospital in Edina.

The crash occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday on I-35-W just north of Minneapolis. Puckett, who was driving, was returning with his father-in-law from a fishing trip, Twin spokesman Dave St. Peter said. The father-in-law was not hospitalized.

The cause of the accident was unknown.

Puckett was forced out of the game in 1996 when an early form of glaucoma left him blind in his right eye. But his ophthalmologist said Puckett can still see well enough to drive safely.

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Otis Nixon has a broken jaw and some bad feelings toward Kansas City shortstop Felix Martinez after the rookie kicked the Minnesota outfielder in the face as he tried to break up a double play Saturday.

“It didn’t look good,” he said. “Didn’t like what I saw.”

Martinez, ejected from 13 games with double-A Wichita in 1995, called it an accident.

Nixon plans to continue playing while his jaw heals. A switch-hitter, Nixon plans to wear a facemask when he hits from the right side.