ST. GEORGE – Traffic on Dixie Drive in St. George backed up Wednesday evening after two vehicles collided in the intersection at W. 600 West by the Tonaquint Nature Center.
Around 5:40 p.m., police responded to the scene and began rerouting traffic around an immobile silver Hyundai Accent and white Ford Explorer.
Prior to the collision, the woman driving the Hyundai was westbound on Dixie Drive and nearing the W. 600 West intersection. Before reaching the intersection, she became distracted by something in her car, St. George Police Sgt. Dave Williams said. The woman told police the light through the intersection had been green, but when she looked back at it, it had turned red and it was too late to stop.
Upon entering the intersection, the Hyundai collided with a Ford Explorer turning east onto Dixie Drive from W. 600 West.
The man driving the Ford Explorer was unharmed, while the woman driving the Hyundai experienced some bumps and bruises due to not wearing a seat belt. Neither required transport to the hospital.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The intersection was cleared by 6:10 p.m.
The woman was cited for not stopping for a red light, and also given a warning for not wearing a seat belt. Williams said.
Police have been issuing warnings for seat belt violations since a stricter seat belt law went into effect May 12, Williams said.
Under the new law, motorists observed not wearing a seat belt can be pulled over and ticketed by police. However, the first stop is a warning. People stopped for a repeat offense may be ticketed with a $45 fine attached.
“We’re eight days into it; there’s going to be a lot of warnings right now,” Williams said.
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