ST. GEORGE — A 96-year-old driver making a left turn at an intersection collided with another vehicle Tuesday morning in St. George. No injuries were reported.
The incident, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. at the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, involved a gray 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis sedan and a red full-size Chevrolet pickup truck pulling a long flatbed trailer.
According to police and witnesses at the scene, the driver of the sedan was at the intersection waiting to make a left turn from northbound 3050 East onto westbound 850 North, near the Costco parking lot, when he apparently failed to see the oncoming pickup truck and trailer.
The sedan hit the driver’s side door of the southbound truck, which had Nevada license plates, as the truck passed through the intersection on a green light. The truck was reportedly being driven by a Las Vegas man making a delivery.
After the collision, both damaged vehicles were driven out of the intersection and into nearby parking areas until police arrived.
The Chevrolet truck sustained moderate damage to the driver’s side, making it so the door couldn’t be opened. However, the vehicle was still operable and its trailer was undamaged. The Grand Marquis sedan sustained more extensive damage to the front end; however, neither vehicle had any of its air bags deployed.
According to police, neither driver received any injuries, and the one adult male passenger in the sedan, believed to be a family member of the driver, was also not injured. The driver of the sedan was cited for making an improper left-hand turn, police said.
Officers from St. George Police Department responded to the scene, and a crew from the St. George Fire Department assisted with cleaning up debris from the road.
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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A Mercury Grand Marquis involved in a collision sits near the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
St. George Fire Department workers sweep debris from the road following a collision at the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
The driver of a Chevrolet pickup looks over his vehicle and trailer following a collision at the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
The driver of a Chevrolet pickup checks his vehicle for damage after it was involved in a collision at the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
A Mercury Grand Marquis involved in a collision sits near the intersection of 850 North and 3050 East, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
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Come on 96!? There has to be a law of age seriously. Lucky the other guy was in a big truck!
I agree, Rob83. There just comes a time when one shouldn’t drive anymore. Especially with advanced age. The reflexes, vision, depth perception just aren’t there. Heck, I’m 53, and I try not to drive at night unless I absolutely have to. My night vision isn’t what it was 25 years ago. Pretty sure I won’t drive in the dark at all in a few years.
I agree with the 2 above comments.. my neighbor is 90 and should not be on the road..she doesn,twear glasses, cam.t read the paper, and won,t get a hearing aid.. watch out …
“improper left turn” ?? that’s what their calling it now?
This is my biggest fear in this town, all these elderly drivers that are a danger to themselves and everybody else on the road! If I remember right, all the people who have driven their vehicles through businesses the last few years have all been way too old to drive. I understand the want for the elderly to be independent, but there comes a time where you just don’t function like you used to, and the ability to make sound decisions while on the road diminishes severely.