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ROY — A 70-year-old crossing guard was taken to a local hospital in critical condition after being hit by a car in front of Roy Elementary School Thursday.
About 8:15 a.m., a crossing guard at 2888 W. 5600 South walked out into his crosswalk to stop traffic and allow a group of students to cross.
"The crossing lights were flashing, cones were out, and he had a reflective vest on," said Roy police detective Matthew Gywnn.
The crossing guard was struck by an eastbound vehicle traveling about 20 mph.
"He rolled up on the windshield, caved in the windshield, stayed on the vehicle as it traveled forward. At one point it appears he rolled off and may have been struck by the driver's front tire," Gywnn said.
The man was taken to a local hospital with head trauma and other injuries. He was upgraded to stable condition after arriving, Gywnn said.
A woman, believed to be in her mid-20s, was the driver. As of Thursday morning, she had not been cited as the investigation continued.
"Distracted driving may have been a factor. We're looking also at the sun may have been a factor," Gywnn said.
Weber School District spokesman Nate Taggart said counselors were sent to the school for students who witnessed the accident. Teachers were also told to watch for students who seemed to be having a hard time emotionally with the accident. A notice of what happened was also sent out to parents of the school, he said.
Roy Elementary has students from kindergarten through sixth grade.
Gwynn noted that Roy has four main east-west thoroughfares and the sun can become a factor in the mornings. He cautioned all drivers to be aware of their surroundings and "don't let distractions take charge."
Contributing: Mike Anderson
