ST. GEORGE — A traffic light and telephone box were extensively damaged after being hit by a semitractor-trailer in St. George Wednesday morning.

Shortly before 9 a.m., St. George Police responded to an incident involving malfunctioning traffic lights at the intersection of Red Hills Parkway and 1000 East.

Officers at the scene spoke to several witnesses who reported seeing a semi pulling double trailers heading east on Red Hills Parkway when it went over the curb while turning right onto southbound 1000 East, St. George Police officer Tiffany Atkin said.

It appeared from the damage that at least one of the trailers drove along the sidewalk, where it hit a telephone box containing hundreds of lines. The box was crushed under the trailer’s weight, and the top of the trailer struck the traffic light. The semi reportedly left the scene without stopping.

The impact knocked several parts and supports from the light, which landed on the sidewalk and into the roadway. The telephone connection block was in pieces with debris and broken plastic scattered along the sidewalk. Hundreds of wires were ripped from the base and were lying completely exposed in the gravel.

Officers directed traffic while a crew was dispatched from the St. George City Works Department to repair the damaged traffic light. CenturyLink engineers were also called out to begin repairs on the severely damaged connection block.

An “attempt to locate” was broadcast to officers to be on the lookout for a red semi pulling double trailers, Atkin said, while the Utah Highway Patrol was advised of the incident in the event the truck entered Interstate 15.

Repairs were still underway as of Wednesday afternoon with no estimated time of completion available at the time of this report.

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

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