WASHINGTON CITY – A two-car accident sent one to the hospital at approximately 8:30 this morning.
A black Ford SUV and a tan Toyota Sienna collided in the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Playa Della Rosita after the Ford apparently made a left turn in front of the van, which caused the van to land on the rocky hillside of the nearby Peterbilt building.
According to witnesses, the female driver of the van was wearing a seatbelt and is a paraplegic who was the only person in the car. She was also the only person in the accident who was transported to the hospital after the Washington City Fire Department extricated her from the car. Her car received extensive damage from the crash and her door was removed in order to get her out of her vehicle.
The Ford included three adults and a baby. The van struck on the passenger side of the vehicle, which is where the baby was seat belted in a backward facing car seat. The driver of the Ford may be cited for not yielding to the van.
Witnesses who were working inside Peterbilt said they heard and felt the collision and came out to see what happened.
The van swerved to avoid the accident and struck the front passenger side of the vehicle instead of contacting the vehicle directly on the passenger side door, which probably protected the baby from injury. All occupants of the Ford were unharmed, but the vehicle had to be towed from the scene because the front tire of the vehicle was removed and the car was sitting on its axle.
Copyright 2011 St. George News. This material may not be published or rewritten without written consent.
Photo by Jen Austin, St. George News
