Minivan strikes bicyclist in crosswalk near Dixie High School

Emergency personnel evaluate a teenage boy who received minor injuries after being struck by a minivan while riding his bike to Dixie High School in St. George, Utah, Sept. 20, 2017. | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – A student riding his bike to Dixie High School was struck and knocked over by a minivan Wednesday morning. Despite the fact that the boy wasn’t wearing a helmet, authorities at the scene said he escaped injury, aside from a few minor scrapes.

Emergency personnel evaluate a teenage boy who received minor injuries after being struck by a minivan while riding his bike to Dixie High School in St. George, Utah, Sept. 20, 2017. | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Shortly before 8 a.m., the boy was traveling west along 700 South toward the school, St. George Police Sgt. Albert Gilman said. He crossed 400 East on a green light while riding his bike in the crosswalk on the left side of 700 South.

A female driver in a minivan also traveling west made a left turn from 700 South onto 400 East, striking the boy and knocking him and his bike to the ground, Gilman said.

“She was going the same direction he was and just didn’t see him,” he said.

The impact appeared to be minor, with little or no visible damage to the minivan or the bike. The boy, reportedly a 15-year-old Dixie High student, was alert and responsive while being evaluated by emergency medical technicians at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident, Gilman said, and was placed inside the ambulance while awaiting parental notification.

The driver of the minivan was cited for failure to yield on a left turn.

In addition to the St. George Police Department and Gold Cross Ambulance crews, the St. George Fire Department also responded to the scene. Dixie High School administrators were also present. 

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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6 Comments

  • mmsandie September 20, 2017 at 11:39 am

    How could she not see him. She was going in the same direction, maybe distracted, cell phone, kids in ca,..this happens do often..
    Not wearing a helmet is inexcusable for a student that age.. Bike looked.good

    • Icomments2 September 20, 2017 at 11:19 pm

      Yes of course it must be a cell phone always a cell phone!!! It could’ve been a distracted driver as in talking to a friend in the car, or looking at someone in another car, or someone on the sidewalk or the clock, or the radio, or should I go on??? There or still many things that distract drivers other that cell phones!!! mmsandie you have a one track mind when it comes to why accidents happen, and it always “CELL PHONES”!!! You’re probably the guiltiest when it comes to being distracted while driving!!!

  • ladybugavenger September 20, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    Walk your bike when crossing the in a crosswalk. Riding a bike in a crosswalk does not give a bicyclist the right of way. Is that only a California law? Sorry if it doesn’t apply. I was trained that way in California and trained my kids that way in Utah.

  • Joe September 20, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    Read it again people the boy was riding his bike on the LEFT side of the street. In other words he was riding on the wrong side of the road, So of course she didn’t see him as she was traveling on the RIGHT side of the road. It is illegal for anyone to ride in the opposite direction as the everyone else and will most likely result in an accident.

    • mesaman September 20, 2017 at 8:39 pm

      If he was on the sidewalk it won’t make a difference, will it?

    • Icomments2 September 20, 2017 at 11:09 pm

      You actually need to read it again!!! They were both traveling in the same direction!!! And as a matter a fact the cops out here don’t care what way you are traveling and if you are on the sidewalk even… Try and figure that one out… But in this case they were both traveling in the same direction!!! He is only at fault for two things 1) not wearing a helmet(not a law in Utah just common sense) 2) riding his bike in the crosswalk… I learned how to ride a bike in CA long before helmets were a law but I taught my kids how to ride the CA way and to ride with a helmet or they don’t ride!!! Simply as that!!!

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