Auto-pedestrian accident leads to increased patrols on Springville Main Street

    94

    By KRISTIN TENNEY

    A recent auto-pedestrian accident and continuous speeding problems have roused the Springville police to patrol more heavily along Main Street.

    Two children were hit as they attempted to cross the street last week. They were not seriously injured, but if the driver had been driving slower the accident may have been avoided, said Utah County Deputy Sheriff Richard Healey.

    Police reported that 10-year-old Kalen Restad and 11-year-old Levi Freitag were crossing Main Street Feb. 4 at 4:37 p.m. when they were hit by a car.

    The children were taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Restad was treated for a broken leg and Freitag had a lacerated liver, said Leslie Morgan, a Springville resident and friend of the Restad family.

    If driver had been going any faster the injuries would have been much worse, said Springville Lt. Oliver Nielsen.

    “I arrived at the scene late, but I noticed both boys had been carrying Sprite bottles and they were spilled on the street. It is just fortunate the boys weren’t killed or mangled badly,” Nielsen said.

    Main Street is a four-lane street that connects to State Street. The speed limit is 30 mph from 800 South to 400 North. It changes to 40 mph from 400 North to 600 North. The limit is raised to 50 mph after 600 North to State Street.

    “The problem with Main Street is that drivers who are going 50 to 60 mph on State Street don’t slow down when they get into town. The wide lanes give the drivers a sense of false security and the way the speed limit changes doesn’t help either,” Healey said.

    Speeding on Main Street is not a new concern for Springville citizens. Carolyn Groshens has lived there since 1972 and said that it has been a dangerous street for as long as she can remember.

    “I have seen people fly down Main Street going 60 to 70 mph. I don’t think the police patrol it enough,” Groshens said. “I usually see police on the street maybe once a week when I’m driving to work in the morning.”

    Nielsen reported that the Springville Police Department plans to heavily patrol the street during the early-morning commute, the evening commute and around 11:00 p.m. to slow drivers down and to avoid more accidents.

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email