SALT LAKE CITY — Two men have been hospitalized after a car crashed into them while they were trying to hook up a tow strap between two cars parked in a Salt Lake City neighborhood.
Salt Lake City Police said the accident happened just before 5 o’clock Friday night. Shortly after, bystanders could be seen watching in horror as crews worked to clean up what was left of a car crash that sent two men to the hospital.
"I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time I guess," said Heather Woodward, who was walking to the bus stop when the crash happened.
Police said two men were hooking up a tow strap between a green Dodge pickup truck and a yellow sedan that were parallel parked facing east on 1000 North near 1500 West.
"I was walked passed the cars and I saw two men laying on the road, to hook a tow strap up," Woodward said. "The truck was in front and the truck was backing up."
Stacey Decker was behind the wheel of that green Dodge truck.
"I remember just backing up and then next thing you know I hear a screech and then a big crash and I flew forward from the impact of the car hitting my truck," Decker said.
A gray Nissan Altima was heading westbound in the same area when it left its lane, crossed over traffic and crashed into the two cars.
"I turned around as soon as I heard the screech and that’s when I saw everything," Woodward said.
What happened next left both Heather and Stacey speechless.
"It [the gray Nissan] ran over both of them and pushed the yellow car on top of the lawn," Woodward said.
"I heard the men screaming, they were in pain, they were moaning, they were like, 'Help me! Help me!' and I didn’t know what to do, I was freaking out," said Woodward.
Both men were pinned between the cars.
"Couldn’t even move, just didn’t even know where they [were], didn’t know what had happened," Decker said. "I didn’t think they were going to make it, honestly."
Police said an investigation is underway to determine what caused the Nissan driver to swerve out of his lane to the other side of the road.
Still, these ladies are thankful that this accident didn’t turn fatal.
"I’m just glad everybody’s okay," said.
Salt Lake Police hope drivers will learn from this accident, to prevent more like it from happening in the future.
"We want people to pay attention when they’re driving, be conscious of their surroundings, I know it’s a beautiful day and we all want to get home from work and enjoy that weekend, but we’ve got to be safe doing it," said Salt Lake City Police Detective Greg Wilking.
Both men were taken to the hospital, one in more serious condition than the other. At last report, police said both men are expected to survive.
