ST. GEORGE — A return trip to Canada was interrupted after two vehicles entered a busy intersection simultaneously Wednesday evening, causing a crash that tied up traffic and left one vehicle severely damaged while officers tend to the hectic scene.
Shortly before 6 p.m. officers were dispatched to a reported two-vehicle crash in the intersection of East 700 South and South Main Street, St. George Police Public Information Officer Lona Trombley said.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a black 2013 Ford pickup truck and a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox in the middle of the intersection.
The 53-year-old man driving the Ford told officers that as he was heading north on Main Street he entered the intersection at East 700 South on a yellow light and was struck by the Equinox heading east on East 700 South, the officer said.
The Ford was struck on the driver’s side rear quarter panel which sent the pickup spinning in the intersection.
The 43-year-old woman driving the Equinox told officers that “she did not remember what color the light was” before entering the intersection, Trombley said.
The man driving the Ford told officers he was returning home to Alberta, Canada, when the crash occurred.
The Ford remained operational and was driven from the intersection; however, the Equinox sustained extensive frontal damage in the collision and was towed from the scene. The airbags did not deploy in either vehicle, and all occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, Trombley said.
The woman driving the Equinox was later cited for failing to obey a traffic signal.
All vehicle occupants declined transport to the hospital, and no serious injuries were reported.
The St. George Police Department and the St. George Fire Department responded and tended to the scene.
In a 2015 national telephone survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 94 percent of drivers said it’s unacceptable to go through a red light if it’s possible to stop safely, but 39 percent reported doing so in the past 30 days.
According to information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Office, in 2014 (most recent data available) 709 people were killed and an estimated 126,000 were injured in crashes that involved running a red light. Over half of those killed were pedestrians, bicyclists and people in other vehicles who were hit by the motorists who ran the light.
Additionally, an Insurance Institute study found that crashes involving drivers who ran red lights, stop signs and other traffic control devices comprised 22 percent of all crashes recorded in the study, making these accidents the most common type of crash.
The study also showed that injuries were reported in 39 percent of those crashes involving a driver that failed to stop at a traffic control device.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
St. George News videographer Mike Cole contributed to this report.
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Dark gray Chevrolet Equinox is severely damaged after driver allegedly fails to stop at red light on East 700 South and South Main Street, St. George, Utah, Feb. 15, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News Gold Cross Ambulance responds to two-vehicle crash in the intersection of East 700 South and South Main Street, St. George, Utah, Feb.15, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News The driver of a black Ford pickup truck was returning home to Canada when a crash occurred on South Main Street and 700 South, St. George, Utah, Feb.15, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News 
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Nothing new here, he was just doing what every other truck and suv driver does in the area, run red lights and stop signs, drive diagonally thru parking lots…basically expecting traffic everywhere to yield because you have a large vehicle and you know they will. Does not work with me…as I am sure some of your already notice as I refuse to give in to your bullying tactics.
Everyday, and I mean everyday we see …* who think their time is worth more than others and they run red lights, where are the Police? I see it all over St George & Washington City….The …* Red light means just that dip $hit….and if you hit me or mine, I’ll sure you and your grandkids’s grandkids for all you and they will ever have….no …* excuse, and get off oyur …* cell phone while your driving too, your call is not that important
Ed. ellipses: …*
Ha ha you got edited !