Layton to examine crosswalk safety after student was struck by two cars
Nov 2, 2021, 5:36 PM | Updated: Nov 3, 2023, 3:52 pm
LAYTON, Utah — A teenager was transported to the hospital in serious condition Tuesday morning after two cars struck her near Layton High School.
Police are still investigating the cause, but they do believe visibility was a major issue, with the dark and rain.
In the meantime, the city will look into whether additional safety measures may be needed in the area.
“I think it’s devastating,” said sophomore student Jada Chilton. “I think that I just feel so sorry for the family.”
In the midst of the morning rush to school, a 15-year-old girl was struck either at or near a crosswalk off Wasatch Drive, just south of Layton High School.
“It was raining. It was dark,” said Lt. Riley Richins with the Layton Police Department.
Police said she was first hit by one car.
“That vehicle pulled over to the side of the road, and that driver got out and tended to the victim,” explained Richins. “And while that was happening, another car that was back a few vehicles struck the victim as well.”
Some students who come through the area each day can’t help but wonder if something more can be done to prevent accidents like this.
“You know, with the high school, there’s just a lot of new teen drivers, so especially, like, in the morning, it’s pretty dark,” said sophomore Ebony Davis. “So, a lot of kids will just speed or they won’t be able to see the crosswalk.”
Back in 2016, 17-year-old Bailee Dibernardo died after two cars hit her at the crosswalk just north of Layton High School.
Afterwards, Layton City added lights to each of the crosswalk signs around the school.
“I feel like people are going way too fast on here and there’s not as many lights. Like, it’s dark in the morning and there’s not that many lights from the crosswalks,” Chilton said.
As a routine measure, city workers will survey the area again to consider whether more safety measures are needed.
But police say often a key factor in cases like this is drivers simply need to pay close attention, especially when things like the dark and rain reduce visibility.
“Just slow down even more and pay extra attention,” urged Richins.
Police said speed was not a factor in Tuesday morning’s accident.
They say both drivers are cooperating with the investigation.
