Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SPANISH FORK — A day after two teenage girls were critically injured after being struck by a car, Spanish Fork residents voiced their concerns over the safety of the intersection where it happened.
The girls were hit on Saturday at the intersection of 2300 East and Canyon Road while trying to cross a road. They ended up at Primary Children's Hospital in critical condition.
People who live near the intersection said changes to improve safety at the intersection are long overdue.
The speed limit through the intersection is 45 mph; however, residents said motorists drive much faster than that.
One of the residents, Christopher Carroll, travels through the area countless times. On Saturday, however, vehicles came to a stop.
'I couldn't sleep'
"I couldn't sleep last night. I just keep thinking about it," Carroll said to KSL-TV. "I'm thinking about them right now. I want to hope they're going to be OK, but the medical side of me knows they probably are not."
Carroll is a registered nurse and did what he could to help the victims.
"I saw two bodies laying in the road so I knew it was something serious, so I just pulled over and ran over as fast as I could," he said. "It broke my heart, and I really just felt sick with how severely injured they were."
The account of witnesses
Witnesses told police the girls, 12 and 13 years old, darted in front of a Kia Soul SUV while trying to cross the road to stores on the other side.
People who live in the area said they see close calls often.
"I see a lot of them that will cross and, you know, take their chance," said resident Tiffani Atkinson.
Atkinson said she wouldn't want to trade places with the driver.
"I can't even imagine being that driver, or having to witness that," she said. "That would just be horrific."
Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall said the news hit him hard.
"When we heard the news, I hugged my daughter a little bit tighter. And that's what we need to do for these families is, when the time is right, hug them," he said.
Spanish Fork leaders had a pre-construction meeting about this intersection last week. And for the last year, the city has worked closely with the Utah Department of Transportation to get a signal installed.
"I know what frustrating is, and I know the pace of government can sometimes be frustrating," Mendenhall said.
The signal is expected to be installed within the next few months, but until then, pedestrians remain at risk.
"There're so many children at risk here, and it's not going to go away," Carroll said. "It's just a matter of time before it happens again."
Contributing: Mark Jones
