Pedestrian darts across I-15, gets struck by SUV

Pedestrian hit by southbound vehicle on Interstate 15 near Exit 5 in St. George, Utah, Jan 2, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Update 10:10 p.m. Utah Highway Patrol released a statement stating the pedestrian has been identified as John Madison of Muskogee, Okla. and was pronounced dead at Dixie Regional Medical Center as a result of his injuries.

ST. GEORGE – An adult man walking along southbound Interstate 15 at mile post 5 near Bluff Street was struck by an SUV Thursday afternoon when he reportedly ran into oncoming traffic.

The man was walking across I-15 when he started to run into oncoming traffic, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jake Hicks said. He was struck by a gold Toyota SUV that was carrying a family of four and towing a small U-Haul trailer.

The man hit the mirror and struck the windshield directly in front of the passenger seat where Ann Jooste was sitting.

“We were in the far lane and this guy was walking in the road and we were moving over and it seemed like he was intentionally trying to get in front of our car; that was the first thing that struck me,” Ann Jooste said. “I don’t know if it is but that is how I felt,” she said.  “He connected with the side mirror. Our windshield shattered and I don’t know if another part of his body hit it. I did not view the body but I know he had a pulse and they did CPR and he was taken.”

He was taken by ambulance to the hospital in critical condition with severe head trauma, Hicks said.

Ann Jooste was traveling with her family, including husband Lolwell Jooste who was driving, her daughter, 8, and son, 15. She said they had left Brian Head earlier than expected when her teenager experienced altitude sickness, and were traveling home to San Diego, Calif.

Southbound traffic on I-15 was reduced to one lane of travel in the aftermath of the incident until the scene was cleared.

UHP’s investigation into the incident is ongoing.

This report is based in part on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

Pedestrian hit by southbound vehicle on Interstate 15 near Exit 5 in St. George, Utah, Jan 2, 2014 | Photo by Natalie Barrett, St. George News
Pedestrian hit by southbound vehicle on Interstate 15 near Exit 5 in St. George, Utah, Jan 2, 2014 | Photo by Natalie Barrett, St. George News

 

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2 Comments

  • JOSH DALTON January 3, 2014 at 7:50 am

    Once again I had front a front row seat to the action. This is the secound time this has happend on this same strech of highway.

  • Mark LeMond January 29, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    John Christopher Madison was one of my best friends. He was an Army Ranget and combat veteran of desert storm. Him and I have been thru more … together than most will only read about. He was a good man and a great friend. I miss him.N
    Ed. ellipsis.

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