Failure to yield sends vehicle down embankment into car in Deseret Industries parking lot

ST. GEORGE —The driver of a Honda Pilot was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision that sent a Honda Accord over the curb, down an embankment and into a parked passenger van in the parking lot of Deseret Industries.

A collision at Red Cliffs Drive and 2450 East resulted in a vehicle traveling down an embankment into a parking lot, St. George, Utah, March 14, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

St. George Police Sgt. Jace Hutchings told St. George News the Tuesday afternoon collision at approximately 3:40 p.m. was the result of an adult woman who failed to wait until other vehicles were out of the intersection of 2450 East and Red Cliffs Drive before turning left.

The driver of the Honda Pilot was traveling southwest on Red Cliffs Drive and turned left to travel south on 2450 East while the silver Honda Accord was continuing straight through the intersection traveling northeast on Red Cliffs Drive.

Hutchings said the driver of the Accord swerved to try and miss the Pilot and ended up traveling up over the curb and sidewalk. The Accord then went down a rock landscape embankment into the far northwestern section of the parking lot and came to a stop when it collided with a vehicle parked there.

The Accord appeared to have barely missed a parked black Audi A3 and hit the driver’s side front corner of the Caravan.

The adult pregnant female driving the Accord was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to St. George Regional Hospital for evaluation. However, Hutchings said it appeared there were no visible injuries and she was transported more for being “shaken up.” Her boyfriend, who was a passenger in the Accord, stayed behind to help with the police investigation.

The teen driver of the Caravan had parked her vehicle and was inside Deseret Industries at the time of the crash. The mother of the teen reported to the scene to assist police and prep the Caravan for towing.

The Pilot sustained damage to the front end and was the first vehicle towed from the scene to prevent it from blocking traffic on Red Cliffs Drive.

The Accord received the most damage to the front, driver’s side and rear while the Caravan received a small dent on the front corner by the driver’s side front tire. However, it had to be towed as the front tire was bent from the impact, rendering it unable to drive.

Two more tow trucks from Rowley Boys Towing and Freedom Towing took the Accord and Caravan away.

The adult female driver of the Pilot was cited for failure to yield.

Hutchings reminds drivers to wait to turn out of an intersection until they’re sure all oncoming traffic has stopped and not continuing through the intersection. He added to be observant when driving.

St. George Fire Department was dispatched as well to the incident scene, which was cleared at about 4:40 p.m.

This report is based on statements from police and first responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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

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