LETTER TO THE EDITOR – I was the driver of the Honda Insight in the car accident on April 7th 2013 on the corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George. My husband was in the passenger seat and two of my children were in the back. From my point of view the accident was very unexpected. We were heading towards St. George Blvd and were hit first on the left next to my door and then about a second later on the front right side of the car. There were airbags everywhere and I saw little of the accident. It was a terrifying experience and caused a lot of pain for many in the accident. When I finally slowly got out of the car and turned around to look at the wreckage I saw that our car was crushed and a red truck was flipped over and partially on top of the car. My first thought was if anyone was dead. I soon found out that the man standing on the corner had been the driver and that he was okay.
Miracle after miracle took place during that accident. Anyone who saw the wreckage would have assumed that several people would have been in the hospital or maybe even killed. To be sure several of us are in a lot of pain and two cars seem to be totaled, yet I consider the outcome a miracle. I am above all relieved and grateful that everyone was okay. I was ticketed for not stopping at a stop sign. Of course I was at fault. Yet anyone with even the smallest amount of training in city planning or transportation engineering is aware that a stop sign that is clear of tree branches is not the only thing required to create a safe street.
I am concerned for the safety of others driving on that street and other streets within St. George. Many of the streets around the area where the accident occurred are dangerous, where accidents are just waiting to happen. I not only say this as an individual who has been trained in city planning but as a person who had almost 20 years of safe and responsible driving history. When my husband called his sister explaining that we had been in a car wreck she new exactly what happened and where because she had moved into the neighborhood two weeks earlier and had to remind herself every single time she passed that street to stop. It always startled her that there was a stop there and she had nearly missed it on several occasions.
A comment I read on line about the accident confirmed my suspicion that many people had not stopped at that street and had been fortunate, due to the lower traffic levels at the time, not to get hit. The particular street where the accident took place was in an older neighborhood of town on a very wide street. This type of width in Salt Lake City would be a major road with a light at the intersection. In St George this was a residential street and an intersection light would not be feasible. When streets are this wide it doesn’t take much for a driver not to see a stop sign 20 or so feet over on the right hand side. Placing a stop sign high up in the air may make it visible over parked cars on the side of the road or for those driving trucks, but makes it harder to see when in a lower car close to an intersection. In this particular case I had been on that road once before with my husband driving. I had just turned onto the street a block before the accident and was focusing on what was strait ahead of me, the light that had just turned green a block ahead leading on to St. George Blvd. This was a perfectly reasonable thing to do considering that there were no other stop signs anywhere else along the street, and there were no lines on the road indicating a stop was coming up. The traffic at the intersection was low enough that I hadn’t seen how cars were using the intersection either. Anyone who had never been on the street before would have assumed that this was a main through street that went strait on to St. George Blvd without a stop.
Carefully designed streets indicate changes in driving patterns in more than one way. Those who may have lived on the street for many years are aware of the stop sign and that the pattern of stop signs change on that street. But consider those who visit (which was our case), those getting older and losing their memory on which streets they are to stop at, or young teenagers who are distracted and getting used to driving or unfamiliar with the place. A safe street provides many visual clues so that “everyone” can pick up on how to drive safely. A simple white line painted across the lane as well as words such as “two-way stop ahead” costs the city almost nothing yet can save lives. After the accident my husband noticed that the road had been repaved and that there most likely were lines painted across the street at some time. Whether it was repaved four weeks or four months ago the fact was that the lines indicating a stop had not been repainted. And as I looked at other intersections in the area I noticed that many of them did not have painted lines across the lanes where stop signs were either. These kinds of details that the city has been neglecting can save lives. I urge those who live in St. George to pay attention to this issue, to hold the city accountable for making sure the streets are safe for everyone. It would be a pity for anyone else to have to experience this sort of thing or even a death of a loved one when it is so easily avoided. Of course paying attention while driving is important. But driving is demanding, and those who design and maintain roads are responsible for providing simple and inexpensive ways to make them safe for everyone.
Submitted by: Grace Bjarnson
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Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
Accident on corner of 200 North and 300 West in St. George, Utah, April 7, 2013 | Photo by Grace Bjarnson, St. George News
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I’m sorry that you were in a car accident, and wish you and your family a speedy recovery. But it is insane of you to blame city planning on the fact that you did not pay attention to the road signs at every intersection. The City of St. George is constantly looking at the streets, changing signs and noting problems and traffic areas. Having lived here for most of my life I can tell you they make often and necessary changes, from changing the location of stop signs, adding lights when needed, to re-doing intersections over and over again to make it work perfectly. The width of a street does not guarantee the traffic pattern and you should have been paying attention in any case, but especially when you are in a place where you do not “know” the traffic. One thing when you are driving is never “assume” anything.
I have also lived here most of my life, and have also seen changes in signs and stop lights, but not usually for good. Most times they mess up the timing of lights that cause more congestion or problems. When they move stop signs they don’t paint lines for a few days and cops wait for people to run it, because they know a lot of people will. The city has to make money somehow. Yes, in the end putting in that stop sign might have been for good, but not until they make more money than they spent on putting it in.
I agree with you that the width of a street does not indicate traffic patterns and that is why it is important to be aware always.
Actually, if you read the whol;e article, you’ll understand that it is mostly the city’s fault, I agree, the residential surface streets downtown are much wider than newer neighborhoods elsewhere in the city. SDhe has an excellent point, I’m from here and drive through those areas at times and many stop signs are hard to see due to trees covering them, being so far from where Im stopped etc. It’s simple, all the city needs to do is simply paint white stop lines at each stop sign!
Actually, I read the entire article and stand by my statement :The width of a street does not guarantee the traffic patterns
And any unknown or unmarked intersection is, by default, a stop intersection.
I’m glad to know that you and everyone involved in that accident were not majorly hurt or killed. Unfortunately the city of St. George will look at this and see that no one was hurt so they don’t need to worry about fixing anything.
Like you mentioned there are countless streets and intersections that have no paint markings and signs are covered up by something. If you were to visit the Bloomington and Bloomington Hills areas of St. George, you would see NO markings on the streets anywhere. Yes the major streets have them, but once you get into the residential areas, nothing. Basically, some people as do I, see it as the city doesn’t care about their streets and the safety of their citizens. It took a car crashing into a house and almost into a pond before the city would put up a guard rail on the road on a side of hill above some homes. There is no rhyme or reason to how the city does things, and they just don’t care either. They will not do anything to improve that intersection, except maybe paint a little white line. It will take loss of life before the city takes real action.
Now while the city can help save lives and property by painting lines or fixing things, a driver (especially one visiting a different place) should be aware of everything, so a partially hidden stop sign will be seen. Yes, I’ll admit that when visiting places I’ve been so concerned with where I’m trying to get, I run a stop sign or red light that is clearly marked. I was not driving safe. Part of driving safely is knowing what is around you at all times and what is happening or coming up ahead of you. If you were worried about making a green light that is a block away, that is not paying attention to what is around you. Even if you didn’t see the stop sign, you could have seen the vehicle heading in your direction.
Also a safe street, as you define it, will not help those getting older, losing their memory, or a distracted driver drive safer (not all teenage drivers are distracted). You took the blame for the accident, good on you, but don’t try to bring others into the blame for something you can control.
I do suspect it was quite a surprise to be hit and that you do feel a bit foolish for not having noticed the stop sign. But having driven that street often, I can tell you that I have only ever failed to see that stop sign due to my own inattention (which I try carefully to avoid doing). I believe stop signs sit at 12 feet not 20 (at least that is what it appears when I stand next to them. And a green light a block away should never be your go ahead to proceed through an intersection. While white paint markings on one street intersection as you suggested may not be cost prohibitive—and indeed may be beneficial on this intersection—I have not seen any city that goes through every intersection painting them, leaving most residential neighborhoods unpainted, because to do every intersection would be a significant cost. Again, I am sorry for all that have had to suffer due to this accident, but I think placing the blame on the city is patently unfair.
It’s a little strange that someone would drive through an intersection completely oblivious to traffic approaching from the left or right, especially when unsure if traffic from those directions is required to yield or stop . Attend a defensive driving class. Also, drivers can easily be distracted by noisy kids, cell phones or by a back seat driver (i.e. spouse).
exactly
That’s where you and her differ, Richard – you unlike her, drive that street often. She was a visitor and didin’t see a stop sign, stop line or a car coming!
So she is a visitor? Does that mean she doesn’t need to pay any attention to plainly posted road signs? Come on now, that is as lame an excuse as her letter is. . .
And by “didn’t see” you mean, “didn’t look” because the stop sign was, and is, there.
The downtown is an accident waiting to happen. There is a metal cover plate at the intersection of 100S and 200E that is barely hanging from one hinge. It is a matter of time before someone hits it, tears it off and the rear wheel drops into a deep pit. Of course, by the city’s mentality, despite being told of this hazard, as well as being mentioned to a few of St George’s finest, it will be the driver’s fault when that accident does occur. That grate is no different than a broken, raised sidewalk waiting for someone to trip over and land on their face. Snow Canyon Parkway has lots of trees lining the road. Real pretty. Buy anyone trying to make a right turn on Snow Canyon Parkway where that little fishing pond is at will tell you that bush/tree on the corner obstructs the view of oncoming traffic from the west. I’m trying to remember where I almost hit a deep pothole (almost a sinkhole) in the middle of a road just yesterday. It took quick evasive action to avoid it, or I might be buying a new tire and an alignment today. Guess the mayor is too busy doing dance videos for some radio station to address it, else he’d be addressing these road problems instead of singing Dixie.
I am very grateful for your artical.. I think it is perfectly reasonable to assume that others may miss that stop sign too.. I also think you have done your homework in researching with others that that intersection needs some work.. rather than just wail about it at home you have taken the next step to getting this fixed and i for one thank you for that. I wouldn’t want my teenage daughter to not see that stop sign coming up either. As far as blaming the city planners.. I would blame them if this has been brought to their attention and they failed to act.. sometimes hindsite is the only way to see things.. Accidents happen… Now that you have addressed this and it makes perfect sense.. I believe MORE should be done with the larger intersections.. that is very tricky. even a 4 way blinking caution light at each of them should do the trick at least help some.. I wish you well.. stinks you got a ticket, but, they do have to ticket someone usually and yes it does hurt your insurance.. and yes.. maybe you will save someones life by raising a stink about this.. thank you.
This is just unbelievable garbage. The lady ran a stop sign. She had a wreck. She got a ticket. She isn’t the first, nor will she be the last, who has finally caused an accident, because of stupidity and inattention. People who defend her, are likely very poor drivers themselves.
I hope this doesn’t mean a lawsuit against the City of St. George. We just can’t keep blaming our mistakes on the Government and expect our taxes to remain the same. This is why we have car insurance, home owners insurance, health insurance, and when we drive anywhere we are taking a risk every time we get behind the wheel. I’m glad you’re okay, the car is another story.
The city was at fault for the carousel panel falling off and striking that woman. Was there a thorough inspection of work before it was put into service? The woman was just in making her lawsuit against the city.
I wonder if any lawsuits can be placed against the city in regards to those houses breaking apart on the west side of south Bluff street. Was the city negligent in issuing building permits on unstable soil? Who is liable for those houses, the homeowner insurance companies, the home owners, the builders or the city (that issued building permits)?
There are people who sue at every opportunity, even when they are responsible for their own accidents. That’s one reason our insurance premiums are high, to cover the costs of those trying to get rich through their lawsuits.
If the government were not involved in every iota of our lives, people who are responsible would be assigned the appropriate blame for (fill in the blank). If the government didn’t issue building permits for things, builders would ACTUALLY have to build things properly, or they’d have terrible press, and they would be run out of town. Or, the carousel would get shut down because they sucked when they built the thing, or etc. You get the picture. Government involvement helps no one except for defending our borders (if they even did that) and protecting our safety.
This is one reason our country is failing. People take no self responsibly. It is always somone elses fault.
Been a long time since I have seen anything as blatantly obnoxious as this letter is! You are trying to make excuses for your own lack of observation, and quite frankly, you have failed miserably. The only thing wrong with that intersection are folks who are driving with their heads up a very dark and smelly place. Also known as “Cranial/Rectal Inversion.”
Stop your sniveling and whining, and take responsibility for the fact that YOU and YOU alone are responsible for this accident. You could have killed your family, and other folks’ loved ones. Instead of whining and moaning, you should be down on your knees, thanking your Creator that no one was critically injured, or killed, and praying for forgiveness.
You letter plainly shows that you have no concept of responsibility, and you probably should not ever drive a motorized vehicle again. You make me want to throw up.
^^^^^^^ AMEN!!
Pave, why don’t you tell us how you really feel?:D
Oh, ok, but never mind the FACT that she did NOT see a stop sign….or stop line. Yup, typical ol’ local boy
Oh, she didn’t see the stop sign, so it is not her fault? Maybe she didn’t see the stop sign because she was too busy being distracted (for whatever reason,) rather than paying attention to her driving. I hope the other motorists sue the heck out of her!
“Didn’t see it” does not mean “not there”, or “not posted”. It mean “not paying attention”
…Or means “Didn’t see it cuz it was BLOCKED BY TREES,” DIMWIT!!!
Except it wasn’t blocked at all. Maybe you should read the article and look at the pictures before you start calling people names. She never says it was blocked and you can see it clearly behind the emergency vehicle.
DUDE! God forbid you EVER find yourself in the same sort of situation and people treat you the way you’re treating this woman! Here’s the thing…. the CITY has NEVER done anything about this intersection and a tree grows over the top of the stop sign. They don’t trim the tree and because it’s on the city easement, they are responsible. The owners of the home have, in the past, received threats from the city for destruction of property for having trimmed the tree. I was in a very similar accident in this SAME intersection 13 years ago that almost killed me. This woman took her responsibility, but she has a point that the city doesn’t make the efforts on some of the downtown city streets to make sure it’s safe. They don’t ticket drivers who park RIGHT on the corners, blocking the views. They don’t trim back the trees growing over stop signs and they don’t make sure that things are properly marked. That’s all she’s saying…. SHAME on you for being such an ASS! Shame on you for missing the entire point!! And again, God forbid you ever find yourself in a similar situation. Karma’s going to be one to get you…
Can’t argue the point that Dave Pudley made an ass of himself with that post. But you have to admit he does have some good points. Too bad you don’t.
I drive through that intersection multiple times a week, on both streets. There is nothing wrong with it.
The problem is with the stupidity of drivers who think the Lord will miraculously take care of them, no matter what they do.
THANKYOU! THANKYOU! THANKYOU!, Optimismalways!!!!
If I was ever in that situation I would accept the blame as my own and pay the consequences. not try to blame someone else or some other company.
Do you feel that you need to defend yourself for running the stop sign? That is what I am reading with the accusations you are making towards the city in this article. What about the other vehicle that you hit? I dont think they were excited that you ran the stop sign so they could hit you and roll their truck and so that they could go to the hospital and be in pain for days. Why were you not paying attention and how fast were you going on this local downtown street? I think we need all the facts to the accident. You are definetly to blame. Im sure that the police officers checked the area where the stop sign was before issuing you the citation. Thank heavens no one was killed.. I can only imagine who you would be blaming for that!!!!
She didn’t see the stop sign, stupid! READ before ranting!!
Oh believe me, the article was read and the story is well known.. I just dont understand why she is writing this ridiculous letter. Its her fault PERIOD!
Driver is to blame for running stop sign. Not seeing it is no excuse, it is there in plain sight. Sounds like admitting to distracted driving.
This is another lazy lack of consideration for safety of citizens by the city. It’s just another case of city government being stuck in the old days when advanced traffic markings, signs, signals etc, were non-existent and not needed here. Wake up City Hall, put your people to work analyzing streets and potential safety hazards. These aren’t Mayberry streets anymore. I’m still anticipating the day when the City gets a traffic engineer in here from a big city to properly assist and know what they’re doing!
Speaking of streets – Dixie Drive is nice and finally widened and all, but omg, couldn’t they have taken more time to tear up the old uneven, falling apart asphalt and totally resurfaced it to create a much smoother ride like Bluff of Sunset?…Oh yea, unlike Dixie, Bluff and Sunset are state-owned streets, no wonder there’s a huge difference!
Ditto
Excuses, excuses, you were speeding(45 to 50) you blew a stop sign (not blocked at all) because you were trying to make a green light a block away. My son (red truck) can barely move, is missing work, and YOU totaled his custom truck. You hit him. Don’t reword it to try to deflect blame. Making full restitution should be your priority, not trying to hide from responsibility.
I hope your son goes after her with a law suit! Normally, when somebody causes a wreck, I can have some sympathy for them. But when you have such an arrogant, egotistical attitude from the person that caused the wreck, she needs to get a harsh, very harsh wake up call.
Oh, quit with the allegations. Until your statements are in the news, don’t act like a little person by spreading hateful rumors!!!!
Are you really as stupid as you sound? Or is it that you are related to Bjarnson?
Barb, don’t you know you live an a place where they’d rather blow money on carousels, splash pads, parks and golf courses rather than vital needs?
Sorry for your ‘welcome to St. George’ experience Mrs. Bjarnson. Tell your Honda we feel it’s pain.it was so young. I agree with your observation concerning intersection striping upkeep. What’s with the wide residential streets with the caution stop signs way over there? There’s a valet reason for it if one thinks about it. When I first moved to the area, I thought the same thing. Seems like all north/ south running streets are the size of a freeway. And the gutters are Hugh, deep things. ( don’t try parking your car next to the curb in St George , your car will fall over on its side. If you think about the typical rain runoff during a typical cloud burst, you’ll say to yourself, ‘ I see why they kept this street so wide. It’s like driving between two rushing rivers Then you’ll understand the city’s on-going problem with limited pocket change. Maybe some day, the city will get a elevated rapid transit system? nah…
Right? Sad welcome to the city, indeed. I do see your point. Imagine if the city shrunk down the size of the streets back in the day, how much more space there’d be for more development downtown? I bet if you could put all the unecessary wide downtown streets together, it’d cover most of downtown! #Wasted Space # Wasted Pavement #Wasted Tax Dollars
Oh, and for an elevated mass transit? Yea right! Suntran ridership numbers keep growing, but not the bus system after all these years. Keep voting in the good ole dimwits, people!
I don’t know why people are so rushed to pass blame for mistakes or errors that are solely their responsibility. Dear Urban Desert you should get the facts before you go ranting. I was there and witnessed the immediate effort of this driver to pass the obvious responsibility from her to, in this case according to the article, the City of St George. The responsibility rest solely on the person that gets behind the steering wheel of a car. Wide streets, stop signs that are difficult to see, white lines or no white lines. If you are uncertain about an area, a little caution goes a long way. I don’t know if at 40 to 45 mph a white line on the road where the stop sign is will stop anyone in time. Do you drive that fast on intercity streets, or in an area that you are unfamiliar with? Yes there are always going to be issues that need to be addressed. But blaming government for our failings, or the bicycle company for not having enough reflectors on the bicycle they sold me because I was riding in the dark with dark clothing in traffic and got hit by a car, or McDonalds for serving hot coffee that I spilled in my lap is insane.
If you want to see a stop sign you first must be looking for one!
Really, she was doing 40-45 through the residential streets? Hmm, news to me as well as STG News. So, where u get ur 411??
That’s the second time I’ve read that. Makes you wonder….
So you can tell how fast cars are going just by watching them drive by? Tell us how you have become an expert in these matters. I’m sure the city could hire you to be the first human radar detector.
Don’t you think if Our Responsibility was on scene they could have very well heard the female admit that or say she was speeding? Just stating a fact.. there are ways this person got that information that may not have been given to the news… hello.. she wrote this letter, she isnt going to openly admit that she was speeding, if that was the case, while trying to push blame onto the city!
There are so many excuses we try to make by deflecting the blame on someone (or something ) else. This is not taking control of your life. Whatever the circumstances, think, what could I have done to avoid this awful near – tragedy? An accident far worse is waiting to happen to those who are unwilling to learn from their own mistakes.
……..Right when visitors and tourists thought St George was a friendly, inviting place. Nice REALITY CHECK by the (explicit) commenters!!!!!!!
Dear Mr Urban Desert, I think thou protesteth too much! Were you in the little blue car? I got my information (411) from the eye witnesses on scene who have signed sworn statements. Why in this article are there no pictures of the other cars involved? Or mention of the condition of those who are dealing with the aftermath of this incident! The red truck upside down that had two occupants. The red truck obviously TOTALED! Or the other car with the whole family in it whom had also been victimized by this careless act. The little blue car and its careless driver is not the victim here, and the GOVERNMENT ( St George City) is not to blame. The stop sign is in clear view, if in fact you are looking and paying attention. But EXCUSES are a dime a dozen when you cannot take responsibility for your own mistakes.
Perhaps Ms Bjarnson needs to have a re-evaluation of her ability to safely operate a car. And perhaps a physical and mental health check up as well.
Oh, I love this. One more idiot trying to avoid personal responsibility. Tell it to the judge. Judges can usually use a good laugh.
The fact the street is wide is irrelevant. These are TWO LANE ROADS. The fact that they’re wide is irrelevant. In fact, if I were coming down a hill toward a street that was extra wide, I’d be extra careful. Putting a street light at that residential/commercial intersection, where there is relatively light traffic, would be silly. The only time there is heavy traffic is before and after Sunday Mass at the Catholic Church or when there is a big funeral at the adjacent funeral home.
The driver is at fault, period! I think she needs driver education all over again she must have missed the part about uncontrolled intersections!
Ken, she’s at fault. But it is a controlled intersection. She ran a stop sign.
I just came across this but wow.. Why are there only pictures of your car? Where are the pictures of the truck that rolled due to your careless driving? Seems pretty selfish to just talk about yourself when there is probably someone hurt and out of a vehicle. Just my two cents.