Two Young Girls Hit By Vehicles In Separate Accidents, One Dead

VINEYARD, Utah – A six-year-old girl was killed Wednesday when an SUV ran over her.

“It just seems like it’s a tragic accident,” said Sergeant Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. along Parker Place. Cannon said a woman was leaving her home. He said she backed out of the driveway and began to turn to pull forward when the girl riding a scooter came from a blind spot and the SUV ran over her. First responders tried to save the girl, but she was pronounced dead on the scene.

“Six-year-old’s got her whole life ahead of her. That’s kind of a hard thing to swallow to realize that someone who has a full and happy life ahead of her doesn’t have that anymore,” Cannon said.

6 year old Vineyard girl killed in auto pedestrian crash. While riding a batter powered scooter she drove into the path of a large SUV driven by a woman driving out of the neighborhood. Investigators do not anticipate filing charges against the driver. https://t.co/teMZfLSmza

— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) March 28, 2019

Cannon said he did not expect the driver would face any charges. He said investigators do not believe the woman was impaired or negligent.

About two hours later, another six-year-old girl was hit by a car in South Salt Lake. That accident happened in an alley near 3575 S. West Temple. Lieutenant Mike McNaughton of the South Salt Lake Police Department said a car was driving through the narrow alley when the girl darted in front of the car.

“It appears that the girl just kind of ran out in front of him at the last minute,” McNaughton said.

McNaughton said he did not expect that driver would face any charges.

Sergeant Nick Street of the Utah Highway Patrol said spring is a time for drivers to pay extra attention.

“In the wintertime, we get so used to not seeing pedestrians, not seeing motorcycles, not seeing cyclists out,” Street said.

He said residential areas are places where drivers should always be ready for children to run out unexpectedly.

“You need to be up and ready to brake when needed and know the limits of your car as to how long it’s going to take to brake, even at 25 miles per hour. You’re not going to stop right away. You’re still going to continue a little ways past that,” Street said.

Investigators have not released the name of the girl killed in Vineyard. They are still making sure all family members have been notified.