This one occurred Sunday evening in Garfield County, when a 55-year-old woman turned left in her Toyota in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer. The accident occurred at 5:30 p.m., about 7 miles south of Panguitch on State Road 89 after the left hand turn was made from State Road 12.
The tractor-trailer hit the driver’s side of the Toyota and Dana George was ejected from her vehicle. She died in a helicopter as she was being transported from the scene. Her 16-year-old passenger was transported with minor injuries and her 80-year-old passenger was transported with critical injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was taken to a local hospital and is listed in fair condition. All were wearing seat belts.
Left turns are legal, of course, but those making them must make sure they have the right-of-way and that the turn can be made safely. Drivers going straight through intended left turn areas will have the right-of-way unless they are speeding to a degree that they lose it or a traffic control device directs them to yield or stop. But don’t assume that a speeding driver will yield or that all drivers will obey traffic control devices. MAKE SURE YOU CAN COMPLETE A LEFT TURN SAFELY BEFORE YOU START THE TURN.