SALT LAKE CITY -- A child has been released from the hospital after she and her mother got hit by a car at the Salt Lake City International Airport Wednesday night.
Airport police are still trying to figure out what caused the driver to back right into the mom and her 4-year-old daughter around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Nancy Volmer, spokesperson with the Department of Airports, said the investigation could take another two weeks.
"Once they have finished their investigation, they'll turn that information over to the District Attorney's Office, who will then decide if any charges will be filed," she said.
The mother and daughter had just walked off the plane and into the pick-up area when they got hit.
Originally, airport police thought the car hit three people—the woman’s sister as well—though they now say only the two actually came into contact with the vehicle.
Volmer said the child’s father reported the girl is now out of the hospital, but no update was available on the condition of the woman.
No other information is available on the driver, either, expect that a man in a red Subaru’s reportedly to blame.
The crash happened during a busy time of year for the airport.
"With more people here for holidays, there’s certainly some more likelihood that an accident could occur," Volmer said.
Travelers have to cross traffic to get to certain areas, like the pick-up lanes. That configuration’s been on the airport’s mind.
Changes are coming with the construction of the new terminal.
"The arrival area and the departure area for pick-up and drop-off will be on two separate levels,” Volmer explained. “So that will help. In addition, there'll be two sky bridges that lead to the parking structure as well as a rental car area, so I think that will help to alleviate some of the pedestrian traffic."
That is still quite a ways off, so, for now, Volmer urges drivers and travelers to pay attention during the packed peak season.
“We would ask that they follow the ten mile per hour speed limit around the terminals,” she said. “And we ask both drivers and, as well, pedestrians just to be alert and to keep an eye out.”
Wednesday’s accident caused $25,000 in damage to the parking garage. The car smashed into laminate and metal panels that the airport said will take months to replace.
