An accident is under investigation after a 40-year-old woman was hit and later hospitalized in critical condition.
The three-car accident began when, according to Salt Lake city police detective Cary Wichman, the woman was traveling east on 800 South and was hit by a Toyota 4-Runner heading south on 1100 East.
The driver of the 4-Runner ran a stop sign at the intersection and crossed over a median and then hit the woman’s Mini Cooper. The 4-Runner then rolled and collided with a Mercedes that was stopped at a stop sign on 1100 East.
The two individuals in the Mercedes were not injured and neither was the driver of the 4-Runner or his 9-year-old passenger.
Wichmann reported that the woman in the Mini Cooper was seriously injured and was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System analyzed their databases to find out what proportion of accidents were caused “due to signal and stop sign violations.” They found that in 1999 and 2000 13,627 fatal accidents occurred at stop signs.
Running a stop sign is just as serious as running a red light at a traffic signal. Lights and signs are posted to organize roadways and prevent accidents. Trust is placed in traffic lights and signs and trust is placed in other drivers to understand their meaning and follow it.
When this chain of trust is broken, accidents can follow, for when a driver has the right-of-way he/she feels secure enough to drive through an intersection, often without making sure that another car is not coming.
Drivers need to always be aware of their situation. Even if it is your turn to go, take a few extra seconds to check the direction of oncoming traffic to make sure that there is no danger in proceeding. The little time this takes could save your life and the lives of others.
Trust is an important aspect of driving but blind trust is not safe. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey road rules all of the time, so take your safety into your own hands. If you or a loved one does end up the victim of a reckless driving accident, the attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.