HURRICANE — Two people were hospitalized in serious condition Saturday night after they were hit by a car while crossing the street in Hurricane.
Emergency personnel from Hurricane City Police Department, Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and the Utah Department of Transportation responded to the incident at approximately 7:45 p.m. in the area of 800 West on State Street.
“An elderly couple was crossing the street right around where the movie theater is,” Hurricane Police officer Ken Thompson said, adding that the driver was westbound on State Street.
“The driver got into the center lane to make a left-hand turn, and that’s where the couple were standing when they were struck. They were crossing the street at dark – or close to dark – outside of a crosswalk, and the driver just simply didn’t see them until it was too late.”
The couple was transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.
“They were both in pretty serious condition when they were transported,” Thompson said.
He said the driver isn’t facing a citation.
“Really not a whole lot they (the driver) could do about it – two people standing in the middle of the road, it’s dark and just wasn’t able to see them.”
Thomson said the incident serves as an important reminder for pedestrians, especially in an area of such high traffic.
“Please use crosswalks and obey the crossing signs when using crosswalks,” he said.
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Tragic occurrence. I’m not speculating about this accident but I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often. People in this area use the median lane as an excelleration lane. Almost every time I drive State St. I see someone racing along the median in an attempt to merge into traffic. Medians are not the same as the white-lined shoulder “excelleration lanes” along parts of State St. Medians should be used as if they were a curbed island with turning lanes. Enter the median, stop, and then merge into the lane when clear.