Two children in a marked Lehi crosswalk, a reported collision, and then nobody at the scene when police showed up. That is the puzzling situation the Lehi City Police Department is trying to unravel after callers said a vehicle hit two juveniles, both believed to be about 10 years old, at the intersection of 500 West and Pioneer Crossing on Thursday.
Witnesses told dispatch the juveniles were struck while using the crosswalk, but said they could not stop to check on the children. By the time officers arrived, both the vehicle and the kids were gone. Police say they have not been able to confirm who the juveniles are or whether they were hurt.
In a March 13 post on the department's Facebook page, the Lehi City Police Department said callers reported the crash and told dispatchers the juveniles were hit in the crosswalk. Officers who responded found no vehicle and no pedestrians at the intersection. The post asks anyone with information to come forward and lists Officer Hansen as the contact for tips about the vehicle, driver, or juveniles involved.
Busy Corridor Adds Urgency To Mystery
The reported collision happened on Pioneer Crossing, a major east-west commuter route that has seen traffic grow steadily in recent years. The Utah Department of Transportation has floated safety and capacity upgrades along Pioneer Crossing, including reversible "flex" lanes, to ease congestion and cut down on conflicts, according to the Daily Herald. Local officials have been weighing traffic changes on the corridor as northwest Utah County keeps booming.
Statewide numbers underline what is at stake for people outside the car. About one-third of Utah's 2024 traffic deaths involved pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists, according to agencies cited by Deseret News. It is the kind of statistic that explains why investigators are so eager to track down any footage or details after a reported crash in a crosswalk.
Police Urge Witnesses And Dashcam Owners To Check Their Video
The Lehi Police Department is asking anyone who saw the incident or who may have captured it on a dashcam, doorbell, or other video to contact investigators. In the March 13 Facebook post, the department names Officer Hansen as the primary contact for information about the vehicle, the driver, or the children, and notes that even small observations might help. Police are encouraging people to review the post for instructions on submitting tips or to reach out directly to the department.
What Utah Law Requires After A Crash
Utah law requires drivers involved in crashes to stop, provide identification, and offer aid when needed. Leaving the scene of a collision that results in injury can bring criminal charges, with penalties tied to how serious the injuries are and the surrounding circumstances. Failure to remain at a crash scene can be prosecuted under Utah Code §41-6a-401, as explained by local defense attorneys. Investigators will decide whether any criminal counts are appropriate as they review tips and potential video evidence.
Lehi police say the investigation is ongoing and that they welcome any information that could identify the vehicle or help locate the juveniles. Anyone with tips is asked to follow the directions in the department's Facebook post and to call the department's non-emergency line if they have urgent information. Police say they plan to update the public as new details emerge.
