ST. GEORGE — Two motorcyclists narrowly escaped serious injury after being struck by a truck that mistakenly turned into oncoming traffic in a construction zone Tuesday afternoon in downtown St. George.
The call came into the St. George Communications Center at 12:01 p.m., St. George Police Officer Lona Trombley said, that a white Ford F-150 pickup truck and a blue Yamaha 1300 motorcycle had collided near the intersection of 100 South and 300 East in St. George.
The accident happened in a construction zone between 300 East and 400 East, in front of the new elementary school being built at the site of the old Elks Baseball Field.
“They have cones set out so they move traffic, they condense the lane and they move traffic so there’s westbound and eastbound (lanes), Trombley said.
“So the truck driver pulled out, and pulled into the westbound lanes, so he was heading into oncoming traffic,” Trombley said, “He realized it, so he quickly merged back into the correct lane — the eastbound lane — but as he did he clipped the motorcycle and that’s how the accident happened.”
The motorcycle struck the curb and went down, but fortunately, there was only a minor injury, Trombley said. The driver of the motorcycle was treated at the scene for a bad sprain to his left foot.
The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet, but the passenger was not, she said, which is not against the law. The motorcycle passenger, a young man, told St. George News that he “got tossed into the wood chips” which line the edge of the north side of the Dixie Sunbowl parking lot.
“I think that’s what saved my fall,” he said.
The driver of the truck was not injured, and was cited for failure to yield in a construction zone, Trombley said.
“When you see that it’s a construction zone, just slow down and make sure that you take extra time to determine where the cones are going and what construction is going on in the area,” Trombley said. “That will help you make sure you stay in your correct lane. It’s always better to take your time and slow it down.”
While speed was not a factor, if the driver had taken a second to look a little closer before pulling out, it might have helped, Trombley said.
“(I’m) just glad everyone’s OK; that could have gone a lot worse.”
Gold Cross Ambulance, St. George Fire Department and St. George Police Department responded to the accident. Both vehicles sustained only minor damage and were driven from the scene, Trombley said.
Ed. note: Corrected day of accident
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An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
An accident on 100 South near 300 East in St. George left one person injured Tuesday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 19, 2016 | Photo by Julie Applegate, St. George News
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“The driver of the truck was not injured, and was cited for failure to yield”
I’d add ‘improper lane travel’ to this one too
He didn’t get charged with. improper lane change because his temple recommend card is up to date
????
Oh look Terry got some happy faces for the keyboard ! Terry must be so excited …I’m totally overwhelmed with joy for Terry !