Driver cited after her vehicle collides with motorcyclist while exiting roundabout in Washington City

Washington City Fire Department EMTs treat an injured man at the scene of a collision between a Kia passenger car and a motorcycle at the roundabout near I-15's Exit 13, Washington City, Utah, March 9, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

WASHINGTON CITY — A driver was cited after a collision with a motorcycle in the roundabout just off Interstate 15’s Exit 13 on Thursday afternoon.

Scene of a collision between a Kia passenger car and a motorcycle at the roundabout near Interstate 15’s Exit 13, Washington City, Utah, March 9, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

The incident happened shortly after 4 p.m. and involved a blue Kia passenger car with a female driver and a motorcycle with a male rider.

Washington City Police Lt. Kory Klotz said both vehicles  entered the roundabout at around the same time, with the motorcycle in the outside lane and the car in the inside line.

“The gentleman on the motorcycle wanted to continue around the roundabout but the lady in the blue car wanted to turn and go south onto Washington Parkway,” Klotz told St. George News. “So when they got to the Washington Parkway exit, the motorcycle kept going around the roundabout while the blue car turned right.”

Klotz said that as the car bumped into the motorcycle, the rider hit the throttle, causing the bike to jump the center median and go into oncoming traffic across the northbound lanes.

“He laid it down just before the curb,” Klotz said.

No serious injuries were reported, although the rider was seen pulling up his pant legs so that responding medical personnel could bandage his bleeding knees. 

“Luckily, the motorcycle rider had a full helmet, boots and leathers on,” said Klotz, adding that the man was treated at the scene for his injuries and didn’t need to be transported to a hospital.

Scene of a collision between a Kia passenger car and a motorcycle at the roundabout near Interstate 15’s Exit 13, Washington City, Utah, March 9, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Meanwhile, the driver was uninjured, Klotz said, and the woman had been wearing her seat belt at the time of the collision.

She was issued a citation for improper lane travel, he added.

“When you enter that roundabout in the inside lane, you have to continue straight around the roundabout,” he explained. “You can’t turn right from that lane. You have to change lanes to get to the outside lane of the roundabout to be able to turn right out of it.”

Damage to the Kia appeared to be relatively minor, although its front bumper did become detached. Unlike the Kia, the motorcycle wasn’t drivable following the crash, Klotz said.

In addition to multiple Washington City Police officers, Washington City Fire Department firefighters and EMTs also responded to the incident.

Traffic in the area of the roundabout was minimally impacted for approximately 30 minutes while the scene was cleared.

Klotz said it was fortunate the incident didn’t result in any serious injuries.

“That’s always a better day,” he said. 

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

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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