MIDVALE, Utah — One person was killed while attempting to cross a Midvale street on Monday, in an incident that led to another vehicle crashing into a power pole and sending two others to the hospital in critical condition.
Just after 10 a.m., the unidentified victim was attempting to cross State Street outside of a crosswalk near 7600 South when they were hit by one vehicle. The vehicle then collided with another, which caused one of the vehicles to crash into a pole.
The pedestrian, as well as the drivers of the two vehicles, were all transported in critical condition to the hospital, where the pedestrian later died.
A salesman at Pablo's Autos nearby was just returning to work when he heard the collision behind him.
“I heard two loud thumps and then I look and I see the Jeep… it started tumbling and doing some rolls,” said Isaac Stepp. “I just froze… everything was in slow motion and then I was just like… 9-1-1.”
Passenger impaled, pinned to seat by road debris near Deer Creek Reservoir:
Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department urged drivers and pedestrians to be alert when on or near the road.
“As drivers, we have a responsibility to put our phones down, watch what we’re doing. Look out not only for pedestrians, but cars," she said. “You know, regardless of the set of circumstances… a family has lost their loved one, that’s the ultimate tragedy today.”
In 10 years of working along the road, Stepp said he’s noticed a pattern in this area.
“This is the third time I’ve seen this happen on this road,” he said, wondering if further action is necessary to keep people safe. “UDOT… maybe they need to implement a crosswalk? It’s just a lot of people walk back and forth here, so maybe they need to implement that.”
Police kept the area near the scene clear for safety reasons, as Rocky Mountain Power was called to assess the potential dangers from the downed pole.
State Street was closed in both directions from 7500 South to 7720 South but has since been reopened.
