SPRINGVILLE, Utah — A teenage girl is in the hospital after she was hit by a pickup truck while walking to school Tuesday morning in Springville.
Police say the girl, who is a senior at Springville High School, was walking crossing the street at Canyon Road and 620 South when the crash happened just before 7:45 a.m.
The girl was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.
"She's really funny, she's real stubborn, too," said Kayte Connors, a friend of the teen who was hit.
Connors was texting with her friend early this morning, but didn't hear about the accident until she received a call from the girl's boyfriend.
"He said that she had been in an accident and they didn't know how bad it was," Connors explained.
"She's alive, so it's going be a long road," said Dylan Hansen, the teen's boyfriend. "She's got more injuries than I can count at this point."
The pickup truck driver is cooperating with police in the investigation. Officials say they are still investigating exactly what happened and if the teen was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash.
A resident in the neighborhood said he's seen his fair share of accidents in the area.
"We've had four or five right here in this intersection, but the traffic goes by here sometimes, I think they must be going 60 mph; the speed limit is 35," said Frank Weight.
He hopes after Tuesday's accident that people will pay more attention when driving down the road.
"If there's a message that I could push, and be like pay attention and slow down, especially in residential areas like because it's a very real problem," added Hansen.
Springville police chief Lance Haight said his department hasn't done a speed study on the road where the accident occurred in a while, but says the accident is prompting them to take a closer look.
Those closest to the victim say she dreams of being a welding teacher at Springville High School some day and are just hoping she pulls through.
"She's definitely a fighter, she's, I have faith, she's going get through this," said Hansen.
Springville High School is less than half a mile away from where the crash happened. School officials said they have a crisis team to assist with any student or faculty member.
"Some students were in the area at the time of the accident. We ask parents to take time to visit with their students during this difficult time. We will continue to have resources available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and pray for a full recovery,” said Lana Hiskey with the Nebo School District.
