3 cars collide after teenager fails to yield on left turn

Written by Joseph Witham
November 12, 2016

ST. GEORGE — Three drivers escaped serious injury in a 3-car crash after a 16-year-old girl reportedly failed to yield to oncoming traffic on East Riverside Drive Saturday afternoon.

Emergency personnel clean up after a 3-car crash on Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Emergency personnel clean up after a 3-car crash on East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

St. George Police responded to the incident at approximately 4 p.m. at the intersection of East Riverside Drive and 270 East.

The 16-year-old driver of a Hyundai passenger car was in the left turn lane of the westbound intersection on a green light. The driver of a Chevrolet truck, a man in his 60s, was driving east on East Riverside Drive through the light at about 35 mph when the teenager attempted to make the left turn to go south onto 270 East on a flashing yellow traffic signal light, St. George Police Officer David McDaniel said.

As she pulled in front of the truck, the cars collided, spinning the Hyundai around and sending the Chevy truck into a Honda passenger car whose 30-year-old driver had been traveling north and was waiting to make a right turn to go east onto East Riverside Drive, McDaniel said. The truck was pushed over a curb and smashed head-on into a traffic signal pole.

A Hyundai is towed after a 3-car crash on Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
A Hyundai is towed after a 3-car crash on East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, Nov. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Emergency personnel from St. George Fire examined all of the vehicles’ occupants, and they were all cleared with minor injuries. They were all wearing seat belts, and airbags were deployed in two of the vehicles.

All three cars were badly damaged and deemed inoperable.

Wreckers worked quickly to remove the vehicles from the road while St. George Fire crews removed debris from the scene.

The teenage driver was cited for failure to yield on a left turn, McDaniel said. She was visibly shaken but appeared mostly unharmed and was cooperative with police.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph Witham is a passionate journalist who has written, reported and edited for various publications since 2001. He is a Utah Valley University graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication. He loves Southern Utah's outdoors and hikes often in the region's red-rock canyons.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JosephWitham@STGnews

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8 Comments

  • Randy November 12, 2016 at 11:54 pm

    What ever happened to Drivers Ed in our local High School’s? 35 years ago, I attended two semesters of High School Drivers Ed class, which included 8 hours of driving simulations, and 6 hours with other students behind the actual wheel a car with a Drivers Ed teacher. All completed before I was allowed to apply for a drivers license. Has the high schools stopped teaching critical driving courses such as right of way and how when you may or may not make a left turn at a light? What makes the world think their teen-age children are safer with seat belts, air bags and cell phones. In the 80’s, most we and the cars we drove had no such luxuries and young people died or were maimed when mistakes or accidents like this one were made.

    • ladybugavenger November 13, 2016 at 7:25 am

      We survived the 80’s. good times, good times…..i’m a survivor of drinking out of a garden hose

    • DB November 13, 2016 at 3:33 pm

      I did one semester in 1970. Among the usual, it even included one VW Beetle. (That clutch didn’t last long!) It might just be a California thing, but my understanding is that Driver’s Ed is done privately now, not in High School.

  • .... November 13, 2016 at 7:52 am

    I’m glad I don’t have to worry about traffic conditions I page my chauffeur and he brings the limo around front and takes me where I need to go. and not having to work for a living means I don’t have to deal with morning work traffic conditions either.

    • Real Life November 13, 2016 at 8:59 am

      Being proud because you are a pathetic loser is no way to be.

      • .... November 13, 2016 at 1:05 pm

        I agree with your comment 100% being proud because you are a pathetic loser is no way to be. but at least you admit you are a pathetic loser. you said it stupid !

        • Real Life November 13, 2016 at 9:01 pm

          The retarded parrot strikes again!

  • Bob November 13, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    well, there’s a learning curve with teen drivers, and thats just a scratch–it polish right out.

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