911 call about reckless driver draws police to 3-vehicle pileup

Police take care of a three-vehicle crash on SR-9 and 5300 West after the driver of a Toyota rear-ends a white Chevrolet Silverado that is then pushed into a Pontiac Vibe, Thursday afternoon, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 2, 2017 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

HURRICANE — Two drivers were injured when a motorist reported to police as driving recklessly slammed into a vehicle and pushed it into another vehicle while both were stopped at a light in Hurricane Thursday afternoon.

The intersection of SR-9 and 5300 West where three vehicles collided after the driver of a Toyota rear-ends a white Chevrolet Silverado, pushing it into a Pontiac Vibe Thursday afternoon, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 2, 2017 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

At 12:54 a motorist called 911 to report that a westbound driver on state Route 9 was driving recklessly. Seven minutes later, the same motorist called back to report the driver in question was involved in a crash.

Just after 1 p.m. emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of 5300 W. State Street on a reported three-vehicle crash, Hurricane City Police Officer Jeff Adams said.

Once emergency personnel arrived they found a silver Toyota Tacoma pickup smashed into the rear bumper of a white 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck that was sandwiched in between the Toyota and a 2004 Pontiac Vibe.

The occupants in all vehicles were checked for injuries, Adams said, and the 46-year-old woman driving the Toyota sustained minor injures, as well as the 49-year-old male driving the Chevrolet. Both were checked at the scene and declined transport to the hospital.

The 24-year-old woman driving the Vibe “reported that she was uninjured,” Adams said, “and the 4-year-old boy and 10-month-old infant were properly restrained and uninjured also.”

Officers interviewed witnesses and the concerned motorist who initially called 911.

“We were able to determine that the woman driving the Toyota was headed west on SR-9, and driving recklessly from the information provided by the witness who continued driving behind the Toyota for several minutes after the emergency call,” Adams said.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the area to look for the motorist.

“The witness observed the driver of the Toyota increasing their speed at times, changing lanes without signaling, and then the Toyota began weaving off of the road onto the shoulder,” Adams said.  

A reckless driver triggers a three-vehicle crash seven minutes after a concerned motorist reports a driver in a 911 call to police, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 2, 2017 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

Within minutes of the initial call the woman driving the Toyota crashed into the Chevrolet that was stopped at the light while waiting to make a left hand turn onto 5300 West. The impact sent the Chevrolet into the rear bumper of the Vibe, pushing it into the intersection.

“It was literally minutes,” Adams said, “as the first call came in at 12:54 p.m., and the call reporting the crash came in at 1:01 p.m.”

“The woman said that she had a medical condition that may have contributed to the crash, possibly relating to a diabetic issue,” Adams said, adding, “She also explained that she applied her brakes once she realized the cars were stopped at the light, but she was unable to avoid the crash because she hit the brakes too late.”

Adams also said that the woman was checked by EMT’s at the scene, who were unable to immediately find any medical issue that could have caused the woman to drive in a reckless manner.

The person that called 911 gave a statement to the police after pulling off of the roadway immediately after witnessing the crash. The woman driving the Toyota was then cited for reckless driving and for following too close.

Westbound traffic on SR-9 was affected for approximately 45 minutes, Adams said, while emergency responders tended to the injured and cleared the roadway.

Adams said there are times when medical issues can increase a driver’s crash risk. If a driver starts to feel ill or begins to be affected by a medical issue while driving, it is imperative to pull off of the roadway in a safe area and then call for help, he added.

The Hurricane Police Department, Hurricane Valley Fire District and Washington County Sheriff’s office responded to the incident.

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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1 Comment

  • beacon February 4, 2017 at 9:48 am

    As I drive around Washington County it’s apparent that the police have lost control over the situation. Drivers do as they please, when they please, with little concern for others on the roadway. If you’re actually driving the speed limit (horrors of horrors!) or even a little above, drives will tailgate and bully to try and get you to move even when not in a “fast lane” situation. Running red lights is of little concern to many. With the majority of residents/drivers being LDS it makes me wonder how they can justify leaving their ethos behind when they enter their cars. Are they so busy doing their good deeds that they must run over others in their efforts to complete those tasks. Is their time so much more important than others’ time? I know this does not just apply to LDS drivers, but as noted, given the demographics in this area you have to figure it probably does apply to many. Others are in the wrong, too, but I do not know what their religion asks of them or if they even have one.

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