Driver reportedly texting before running stop sign, triggering 3-vehicle pileup

Gray Ford Focus crashes onto curb during three-vehicle collision on N. 2450 East Wednesday, St. George, Utah, Nov. 8, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — One driver was injured while another was cited after a three-vehicle crash left debris and wreckage scattered along 2450 East Wednesday afternoon.

Shortly after noon, officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the crash involving two pickup trucks and a four-door passenger car, said St. George Police Officer Ken Childs.

Green GMC truck is smashed into black Chevrolet pickup in three-vehicle crash on N. 2450 East Wednesday, St. George, Utah, Nov. 8, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Upon arrival officers found a green GMC pickup truck that was smashed into the front of a black Chevrolet pickup, blocking both lanes in either direction on 2450 East. A gray Ford Focus was pushed up onto the sidewalk partially blocking the northbound lane.

The woman driving the black pickup suffered an injury to her knee, according to her statement to responders. (See Ed. Note)

“She complained of pain and had a pretty big bruise,” Childs said.

She was treated at the scene and declined transport. Her 12-year-old passenger reported she was uninjured.

The driver of the Ford Focus told officers she was texting her sister when she ran the stop sign, Childs said, and collided with the green truck that was heading north on N. 2450 East. The Ford continued through the intersection until it crashed up onto the curb.

The impact sent the green truck smashing into the front of a southbound pickup that was stopped in the median waiting to make a left-hand turn, blocking both lanes of travel.

Traffic was diverted while responders cleared the scene of debris, and all vehicles were rendered inoperable in the crash and were later towed from the roadway.

All drivers and the passenger were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, and no other injuries were reported.

The driver of the Ford was later cited for failing to stop at a stop sign and operating a handheld communications device, the officer said.

This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Ed. Note: The daughter of the woman reported by Officer Childs to be driving the black Chevrolet pickup contacted St. George News to state that it was actually her husband driving the truck, not her mother.

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3 Comments

  • utahdiablo November 9, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    That Text must have been very important to endanger all these people’s lives huh? ….Get off you cell phone you POS

  • Jennifer November 10, 2017 at 10:08 am

    It was not the women in the black Chevy Silverado driving it was my husband and the women is my my mother in the passenger seat with my daughter in the back seat. I wish people would get their facts straight.

    • Avatar photo Paul Dail November 10, 2017 at 11:46 am

      Jennifer, thank you for commenting on this article. I contacted our reporter, who listened back to her audio and confirmed that Officer Childs did indeed report that your mother was the driver of the Chevrolet pickup. However, we went ahead and added an editor’s note saying you were disputing this detail of the story.

      Thanks again for contacting us and for reading St. George News.

      Paul Dail
      ST. GEORGE NEWS
      Editor, Reporter

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