St. Cloud Crosswalk Crashes Prompt Police Warning to Drivers

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Police Department is reminding drivers to slow down, stay alert and stop for people in crosswalks after two crashes this month left a woman with life-threatening injuries and sent two children to the hospital.

Both crashes happened as drivers were turning, and police are urging motorists to check crosswalks and sidewalks before making a turn at an intersection.

On October 20th, the crash happened just before 7:00 a.m. at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 5th Street South. Officers say the woman was crossing the street in the crosswalk when a school bus hit her. Police say the driver, an 86-year-old Sartell man, didn’t see her in the crosswalk. The 27-year-old St. Cloud woman was taken by Mayo ambulance to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital. The bus was carrying students for the St. Cloud Area School District 742 and was under contract with Palmer Bus Service. Police say the driver and the students on board weren’t hurt.

The next afternoon, a driver turning from University Drive Southeast onto 15th Avenue Southeast hit an adult and two children in the crosswalk just before 4:50 p.m. A six-year-old was airlifted to Children’s Minnesota hospital, and a 10-year-old was taken there by ground ambulance. The adult was not taken to the hospital. Police say the children’s injuries were substantial but not believed to be life-threatening. Investigators say the 56-year-old driver from St. Cloud was turning from University Drive onto 15th Avenue when she hit the three people. She was cited for failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Police say pedestrians are among the most vulnerable people on the road. Unlike people inside a vehicle, they have little protection, and even a crash at a fairly low speed can cause serious injuries.

Under Minnesota law, when traffic signals aren’t in place or aren’t working, drivers must stop and yield to pedestrians crossing in a marked crosswalk, or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. Drivers have to stay stopped until the pedestrian has passed their lane, and they can’t pass another vehicle that has stopped to let someone cross. Police point out that a stopped car may be yielding to a pedestrian that drivers behind it can’t see.

Officers are also asking drivers to watch for people on foot near schools, parks, neighborhoods and downtown, and to put away anything that takes their eyes or attention off the road.

Pedestrians have a role too. Police are asking them to obey walk signals, use designated crossings when they can, keep an eye on traffic and avoid stepping suddenly in front of a vehicle that can’t stop in time.

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