Drivers walk away from Washington City rollover police say was caused by 50 mph impact

ST. GEORGE — Two drivers walked away from a rollover on East Telegraph in Washington City without serious injuries — a crash that police said was set in motion when a pickup truck that was stopped in the roadway was struck from behind by a fast-moving passenger car Thursday morning.

A Dodge Dart is tipped onto its side during a rollover on East Telegraph in Washington City, Utah, Aug. 18, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Washington City Police Department, St. George News

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the 3700 block of East Telegraph Street on a rollover crash involving two vehicles; a blue Dodge passenger car and a white GMC pickup truck.

Responders arrived to find the Dodge tipped onto its side and partially blocking both eastbound lanes on Telegraph, while the GMC was heavily damaged and partially blocking one of the westbound lanes.

Officer Matthew Pratt, an accident investigator with the Washington City Police Department, said at the time of the crash, the Dodge was heading west on Telegraph Street while the pickup truck was stopped at 3700 East waiting for traffic to clear to turn left.

“The pickup driver was waiting for traffic to clear at 3700 East so he could pull into a job site,” Pratt said.

The Dodge then struck the pickup at roughly 50 mph, he said, and the force of the impact caused the Dodge to roll onto its side and left the driver of the pickup truck with minor injuries.

A GMC pickup truck sustains extensive rear damage during a two-vehicle on East Telegraph in Washington City, Utah, Aug. 18, 2022 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Pratt went on to say the man driving the Dodge told officers he didn’t see the pickup stopped in the roadway.

The Dodge sustained extensive frontal and side damage, while the rear section of the pickup truck buckled and folded upon impact.

The man driving the Dodge was later cited for following too close and for never obtaining a driver’s license. His vehicle was also impounded by police.

The pickup driver, meanwhile, used a tractor from his job site, located across from the crash scene, to push the pickup truck out of the roadway.

Pratt also said that fortunately, neither driver was seriously injured in the collision, considering the speeds involved.

Westbound traffic was impeded for more than 45 minutes as responders cleared debris and removed the vehicles from the roadway. The Washington City Police Department and Washington City fire and ambulance services responded and tended to the scene.

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

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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