Blinding sun causes head-on collision

A car accident blocks the road at the intersection of Canyon View Drive and Santa Clara Drive, Santa Clara, Utah, August 15, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

SANTA CLARA — Santa Clara-Ivins Police responded to an incident at the intersection of Santa Clara Drive and Canyon View Drive Saturday at around 8 p.m. after the sun temporarily blinded a driver, causing a collision.

A woman in her 60s, driving a dark gray Lexus west on Santa Clara Drive, told police the sun was in her eyes, Santa Clara Police officer Chad Holt said, making her unable to clearly see ahead as she went through what she thought was a green light.

In the intersection, she crashed head-on with a dark gray pickup truck, driven by a man in his 20s.

Neither car had any passengers and neither of the drivers reported injuries.

Police did not issue a citation to either of the drivers.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene, as there was substantial damage to the front-ends of the vehicles, Holt said.

Traffic was somewhat impacted while the scene was cleared and the vehicles were towed, Holt said, but it was not a substantial impact, since there is light traffic at that time.

Santa Clara Fire Department was on scene, with assistance from Ivins Emergency Medical Services.

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

Ed. note: CORRECTION MADE Aug. 17: Report first published identified Ivins Fire Department on scene; firefighter Christopher Barela brought to our attention it was Santa Clara Fire Department with assistance from Ivins Emergency Medical Services.

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6 Comments

  • fun bag August 16, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Idiot drivers blaming the setting sun. She must have flashed the officers her LDS recommend since no citation was given. At 60 yrs old she should know the sun goes down in the evenings… oops!

  • CaliGirl August 16, 2015 at 10:28 pm

    Well at least it wasn’t a DUI… like some other older women receive (and get published in a competitor newspaper). Wonder if we’ll see a story on that incident on St. George News. It could be titled “Blonde EIC arrested on DUI.”

    • ladybugavenger August 17, 2015 at 12:08 pm

      I’ve been waiting for an article on st george news about that caligirl. We all know it happened and yet we get no news about it. She should probably do a piece on the negative effects of drinking while driving…..but its an open case, so can’t say too much but they sure do publish others that were arrested for “alleged” crimes. I read the article in the spectrum, they were quick to print that one ;). What’s gonna happen to the EIC? Is Joyce on administrative leave?

      • fun bag August 17, 2015 at 12:50 pm

        I agree, no matter how bad it makes the editor look they should come out with the full story and her side of things. The sooner they come out with it I think the less the damage will be in the long run. I think we are all wondering about this…

  • ladybugavenger August 16, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    No improper lane change ticket? They hand those out like candy. I’m with funbag on this one.

  • Dexter August 17, 2015 at 2:04 am

    Yeah no citation for stupid driving.! Yeah I’m with FUN BAG on this

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