ST. GEORGE — A pickup truck advancing to make a right-hand turn was clipped by an adjacent semitractor-trailer making a left-hand turn as the pickup moved into the semi driver’s blind spot Thursday. The driver of the pickup was injured … and cited.
Shortly after 2 p.m. the St. George Communications Center received a call reporting an injury crash near the corner of South Bloomington Drive East and Man O War Road involving a semitractor-trailer and a white Ford pickup truck.
Upon arrival officers checked on the Ford driver who told them that his arm was injured during the crash and he was unable to move it, St. George Police Officer Ken Childs said.
Within a short time the man was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center by ambulance for evaluation and treatment.
After speaking with the drivers, officers determined that the semi driver was heading west on Man O War Road toward South Bloomington Drive East. The driver then pulled the semi to the right to allow enough room to make a left-hand turn onto South Bloomington Drive East and clear the intersection.
The Ford was traveling directly behind the semi and came up alongside the right side of the semitrailer leaving little room for the wide berth required for the semi to complete its turn.
Consequently one of the rear wheels of the semi caught the front driver’s side wheel of the Ford, forcing the pickup forward and up onto the curb, Childs said.
“When the Ford pulled up on the right-hand side of the semi during a left-hand turn, it eliminated the extra space needed to make that turn safely,” Childs said.
Additionally, the semi driver was not able to see the pickup truck sitting on his right while making his left turn.
“The pickup moved into the semi driver’s blind spot at that point,” Childs said, “so the semi driver had no way of knowing that the Ford was even there.”
Childs also said that it’s possible that the Ford driver’s arm got caught in the steering wheel while the pickup truck’s front tire was being turned sharply as it was pulled up onto the curb. The actual cause and nature of the injury will be determined at the hospital, he said.
A citation will be issued to the man driving the Ford for improper passing on the right, the officer said.
“The semi driver said that he has driven more than 3 million miles without a citation and thought that he was getting his first one today,” Childs said, “until I explained to him that he wasn’t at fault.”
The increase in construction also brings an influx of equipment and trucks that are on the road right now, Childs said. Giving these trucks plenty of room can increase safety and reduce the risk of being involved in a similar crash in the future.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Whoever owns these local rock/trucking companies must have a lot of clout. They drive in excess of 50 Mph up and down Brigham road, their loads are seldom covered, they use multiple lanes for their own convenience basically displaying an arrogant borderline “road rage” attitude. I don’t even see tags on some of them, anyone ever see these guys getting a ticket??? Not surprised the cop take their side.
Are you sure the semi wasn’t making a right turn. I have trouble believing this is 100% the pickup’s fault. It’s the responsibility of a trucker to always double check and know what’s in his blind spots. Us driver’s with plenty of experience know how much room semi’s need to turn, and so we give them room, but this isn’t something they teach in utah’s semi-retarded, half-assed open book testing.
armchair edgelord masterwizard detected
When a semi is in a turn, their blind spot is constantly changing. It is not the truck drivers job to make sure the vehicles around them are following the laws/rules of the road. Seems if you drive the speed limit, you will be passed on the right with barely a shoulder, on the left side with a double yellow line. Have been passed on the left with a double yellow line, with oncoming traffic that had to swerve to the right shoulder to avoid an accident? Passed on I-15 on the right shoulder? If you are not being passed, then you are being tail gated (seems to be the norm). Stop signs merely a suggestion? To many vehicles in a hurry which sometimes wind up causing or creating an accident. Trying to drive the posted speed limits can be hazardous to you and your equipment. Maybe speed limits should be raised? Not sure what the answer is? Maybe Slow Down a Little.
“Upon arrival officers checked on the Ford driver who told them that his arm was injured during the crash and he was unable to move it, St. George Police Officer Ken Childs said.”
Extremely light damage to that pickup. How could an “arm injury” occur with such a thing? maybe he was just crying injured trying to weasel out of the ticket. maybe a loon