ST. GEORGE – A bicyclist was taken to the hospital after being struck by an SUV Monday.
Around 12:20 p.m. an SUV was making a left turn from Dixie Downs Drive onto Sunset Boulevard. The SUV struck a cyclist in the crosswalk heading north, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said.
The cyclist was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries, Despain said, also referring to injuries to the cyclist’s legs.
The driver of the SUV was cited for negligent collision, Despain said.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by the authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
Bicyclists in the road is really becoming a problem! Im so sick of it! not saying it was this guys fault but he should have been paying more attention before crossing. Probably should have walked his bike across the street like we were taught as children! I dont know though. I was not there. With all the money this town has invested into the trails and all the wilderness around here they have to be right in the street? THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR THEM? Im not sharing the road! SORRY
Wow Nick, had a bad day? The story says the bike cyclist was “in” the crosswalk. Could have been walking the bike, or maybe just peddling through.
A little harsh on the ongoing trail and bike lane thing. Not all people commuting around town can use a trail or designated lane.
Also, Utah Law states the rules for both vehicles and cyclist as they share the road. Not going to share the road? So intentionally killing or injuring a cyclist is okay just because you want to get a point across? Very shallow thinking. Bikes are here to stay, just get used to it.
Oh, another thought just came to me. Maybe you should spend an hour or two a day peddling your butt around. I guarantee you would have a MUCH better attitude about stuff.
Because the bike paths take cyclist everywhere they need to go, right? The bike paths go right to the schools for children and right to the workplace of every citizen of this community. Everyone, bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers need to pay more attention to their surroundings.
I would imagine that crosswalks with crossing guards are hell for you. There are laws in place to protect drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians but I guess they don’t apply to you. Hope you have a great insurance policy with an attitude like that.
@Nicholas: If you are not going to share the road then you are breaking the law and can be cited. You are absolutely required to give them space.
“Im not sharing the road!” Really? My dear sir, you sound like a 5-year old! You’d better hope you never hit anyone because some personal injury attorney’s researcher will do some digging and find this quote. They’ll trace it back to you and you could loose everything you’ve hoarded up for yourself on the basis of premeditation and intent. Yikes!
Bet you are one of the folks down in Bloomington on Sugar Leo or close by.
This is not a pedestrian friendly town. Use crosswalks at your own risk!
Learn the rules of the road pedestrians always have the right away and the bike does not have to yield at a crosswalk and has every right a car does to drive in the road
The driver should be looking left and right before initiating the turn. So its the drivers fault failure to yield.
Another ONE … what is to be done to protect the bicyclists? sited…for what … death comes to easy and loss too easy… ST George prides itself on the bikers and attracts them…should we not protect them. Remember Brayden Nielson…. Big time losses for a small town!!! WHAT???
Two words = Portland, Oregon. So somebody got hit. He WAS in the crosswalk naysayers. I love Portland because even though a cyclist gets hit occasionally, people don’t discourage something that’s so good…riding a bike. Like driving a vehicle, some very large, one way for 20 miles one way with one person in it to go get a pizza is better? Please, The injured cyclist was doing a good thing, getting from point A to point B in a way that doesn’t add to global warming, add to air pollution, and getting some good exercise in the process. Where’s the wrong in that! Think about it people. And by the way, I drive a car too. But here in Portland we are used to looking for cyclists, especially in a crosswalk. Ride a bike, get fit and feel better mentally and phycially, be happy. There’s nothing like the simple pleasure of riding a bike. Just remember your childhood days.
One word= Portlandia
Two words = Fred Armisen?
@Nicholas: If you are not going to share the road then you are breaking the law and can be cited. You are absolutely required to give them space.
Sounds like Nicholas needs to read the drivers handbook. You would would fail your drivers exam. Car was clearly negligent, and should be charged as such (as it sounds they were).
The bike has the exact same rights as a driver of a car. The vehicle approaching is obligated to insure that they do not run someone over. Its really pretty simple.
Bike, Walk, Motorcycle – mode doesn’t matter. You hit them, you should be charged for it.
Sadly, the law states that we must provide the right of way to all individuals in use of a crosswalk whether they have the right of way or not. If the bicyclist is not in the crosswalk then we do not have to provide right of way and are free to not give the right of way. I hate to stick up for someone in the wrong but the law is the law.
I went through that intersection twice that morning. There was a work truck parked at the SW corner which obscured vision of a driver being able to see pedestrians/bicyclists waiting to cross heading north. The article doesn’t tell if the bicyclist was riding or walking his bike. If riding he was on the wrong side of the street and could be going much faster than a pedestrian would be in a crosswalk and appear much faster than a driver would ordinarily anticipate for a pedestrian. He would also be coming from behind the driver. I don’t know if a bicyclist on the wrong side of the street in the crosswalk has the right of way, but as an experienced cyclist I know it is a hazardous way to cross the street. It isn’t clear to me that the driver was oblivious in this situation, and I think other commentators are perhaps being a little too judgmental. In any case, SG traffic has gotten so bad that I try to avoid cycling on the streets whenever possible.
Well what does seem obvious to me, is that the driver of the SUV allowed his SUV to hit something, (someone.) Right there, that fact alone, means the driver was in the wrong, was not paying attention to what he (or she) was doing. Anytime you allow your vehicle to strike something, you obviously are not paying attention and in control of your vehicle.
I got the biggest dodge ram in town, AND I AINT STOPPIN FOR NO ONE!
Not even the police?
Many demand to give cyclists room on the road, but often there isn’t room to give.
Make the cyclists license their bikes and use the revenue to create places, or room, to ride. It works for OHVs, why not bikes?