St George News
ST. GEORGE — Thanks to goodness from strangers, a Fresh Zealand family visiting the area discovered that driving a rental car and being involved in a two-car collision could also make for some fine vacation memories.
No serious injuries were reported.
Emergency personnel react to a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard and one hundred East Wednesday afternoon, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Just after Trio:30 p.m. Wednesday emergency personnel were dispatched to a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard near one hundred East, St. George Police Officer Jamison Hale said.
Upon arrival officers found a gold Toyota Corolla in the center median of the Boulevard and a white Jeep Grand Cherokee on one hundred East.
The Toyota was driven by an elderly woman who reported having chest agonies when responders very first arrived. She was quickly taken into an ambulance and monitored by emergency medical personnel.
The family of four in the Jeep reported they were uninjured in the crash, Hale said.
The man driving the Jeep told officers he and his family were visiting from Fresh Zealand and were heading east on St. George Boulevard toward Interstate fifteen when the crash occurred.
As it turned out the Fresh Zealand tourists were on their way to a lodge they had reserved in Bryce Canyon, intent on hiking through the park the following day.
Just as the man driving the Jeep approached one hundred East, the woman driving the Toyota crossed over into his lane of travel. In attempting to avoid the crash he slammed on his brakes. Despite his efforts the two vehicles collided in the middle of the boulevard.
A gold Toyota Corolla was launched onto the center median after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The influence sent both vehicles spinning in the intersection until the Jeep came to rest facing south on one hundred East. The Toyota was launched onto the center median of St. George Boulevard and wound up facing east.
The woman in the Toyota reported that she was stopped at the corner of one hundred East and St. George Boulevard waiting to cross over and head south. Just then another vehicle pulled up alongside to the right of her vehicle, seemingly to make a right mitt turn, Hale said.
At that point the view of the Toyota driver was blocked, so she never eyed the Jeep as she embarked through the intersection until it was too late.
“We had just rented the car at the airport,” the man driving the Jeep said, “and were headed toward the freeway on our way to Bryce Canyon when this happened.”
The man was traveling with his wifey and two youthful children from their home in Fresh Zealand and said this was day five of their visit to the U.S.
Meantime, the elderly woman who reported having chest agonies after the crash was being looked after by EMT`s while a family member came to pick her up, Hale said.
After a brief time, Kenzie Truman, an employee of Stapley Pharmacy, made her way on foot to the stranded family, bringing bottles of water. Truman said she and the other employees at the pharmacy heard the crash, but originally thought the sound came from a delivery truck at another business nearby.
“When I witnessed them out there with their children I just thought they may need water,” Truman said. “It was hot and once I passed it to them I could tell they were visitors and I just dreamed to make sure they had something to drink.”
Both vehicles sustained extensive harm and were towed from the scene. All vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The family`s luggage was taken from the rented Jeep and placed on East one hundred while they waited for a cab after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard Wednesday, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News.
Once the scene was cleared St. George Police Officer David Slack called for a cab to take the now car-less family back to the St. George Regional Airport. A replacement vehicle was made available at Avis Rent-a-Car, once the company was advised of the crash, the Fresh Zealand visitor said.
While the family waited for the cab to arrive Slack gave the two children a tour of his police car and explained what different objects were used for, displaying them the police lights and other items of interest while the parents took pictures.
“They`ll have an unusual vacation story to tell when they get home,” their mother said, “they`ve never been in a police car.”
The St. George Police Department, St. George Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance responded and tended to the scene.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the total scope of findings.
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St. George Police Officer David Slack shows youthfull visitors from Fresh Zealand his patrol vehicle after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard left the visiting family temporarily stranded, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A gold Toyota Corolla was launched onto the center median after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A white two thousand sixteen Jeep suffered extensive front end harm and was towed after a two-car collision left a family visiting from Fresh Zealand temporarily stranded, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A gold Toyota Corolla was launched onto the center median after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Emergency personnel react to a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard and one hundred East Wednesday afternoon, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A white two thousand sixteen Jeep suffered extensive front end harm and was towed after a two-car collision left a family visiting from Fresh Zealand temporarily stranded, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A gold Toyota Corolla was towed away after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Stapley Pharmacy employee Kenzie Truman brought water to the family of four after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard left them temporarily stranded, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The family’s luggage was taken from the rented Jeep and placed on East one hundred while they waited for a cab after a two-car collision on St. George Boulevard Wednesday, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, two thousand sixteen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News