ST. GEORGE — A 78-year-old woman was transported to the hospital after she ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle on Red Cliffs Drive during heavy traffic Saturday afternoon.
Just after 3:30 p.m., police and emergency personnel responded to a two-car crash at the intersection of N. Mall Drive and Red Cliffs Drive.
A 2005 Chevrolet Impala was heading east on Red Cliffs Drive and failed to stop when the traffic light turned red, instead proceeding through the intersection, St. George Police Officer Lona Trombley said.
Meanwhile, the driver of a 2013 black Honda CRV heading north on N. Mall Drive had a green light and proceeded through the intersection intent on making a left turn when the two cars collided, Trombley said.
The 78-year-old driver of the Impala complained of an injury. She was lifted out of the vehicle and transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center.
The two occupants in the Honda were both outside of the vehicle when responders arrived. They complained of minor injuries but declined transport to the hospital, seeking medical treatment on their own, Trombley said.
“The light was confirmed red for eastbound traffic on Red Cliffs Drive by a witness at the scene,” Trombley said.
The witness who observed the crash told officers he was stopped at the red light one lane over from the Impala as it came through the intersection after running the red light.
The woman driving the Impala was later cited for failing to obey a traffic control device, Trombley said.
Both vehicles were heavily damaged and towed from the scene.
All vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
St. George Police, St. George Fire and Gold Cross Ambulance responded and tended to the scene.
In 2014, 709 people were killed and an estimated 126,000 were injured in crashes involving running red lights. Many of those killed were pedestrians or bicyclists, according to information obtained from the Insurance Information Institute.
The study also found that 22 percent of all crashes in the U.S. involved drivers who ran ran red lights, stop signs and other traffic controls devices. Thirty-nine percent of those crashes resulted in injury.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or first responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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medical episode?
Nope. Just another old person that isn’t paying attention and SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING!