Boy struck by truck near Glendale Park, prompting calls for new crosswalks

GLENDALE — A 6-year-old boy was rushed to Primary Children's Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after being hit by a truck while crossing a busy stretch of 1700 South in Salt Lake City's Glendale neighborhood.

The boy suffered severe but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Salt Lake City police.

The crash happened near Concord Street before 5 p.m., across the street from the newly opened Glendale Regional Park, an area neighbors say has become increasingly dangerous for children because of heavy traffic and a lack of nearby crosswalks.

A frightening scene for neighbors

Siale Uluave, a friend of the injured boy's family, said he arrived home to find police cars and two children's bikes lying in the street. His young cousin had been at the park and saw his two friends crossing the road when the truck approached.

According to family members, the boys were on their bikes and rode onto the street ahead of the adults accompanying them.

"They were just running and I guess the truck just came full on," Uluave said.

According to family members, one of the adults scooped up the boy and ran home, where the boy's parents immediately drove him to the hospital.

Police said the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

Longstanding concerns about the street

Residents say the crash highlights a problem they've been concerned about since the park opened in December: Kids and families are crossing a busy road without a safe place to do it.

"Since we have a new park going through… we should have a crosswalk going on, just to keep the little kids safe," Uluave said. "At least two crosswalks, that's all we ask."

The nearest crosswalk is about two blocks west of Concord Street, but neighbors said children are too eager to cross directly into the children's park just south of Concord.

Neighbor Ifa Motuliki, who has lived in the area since 1979, echoed the concern.

"This is one of the busiest areas. We don't want to see anybody get hit again," Motuliki said.

He added that a pedestrian signal or marked crossing should have been installed when the park opened.

"It's so sad that they haven't thought to put a light over here. I hope when they see this, it will just click in their mind," he said.

Community rallies around the family

Neighbors said they are supporting the boy's family as he recovers.

Police believe the impact occurred at a relatively low speed, based on the child's injuries.

The driver involved also told KSL he feels terrible about what happened and said, as a father of three young daughters, he can't imagine experiencing something similar.

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