School crossing guard knocked down by motorist blinded by sun

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

MAPLETON — A school crossing guard suffered a broken elbow Monday after being knocked to the ground by a passing vehicle.

The incident happened about 8:45 a.m. near Mapleton Elementary School, 120 W. Maple Street, in Utah County. A vehicle traveling east on Maple Street failed to see a crossing guard who was in a marked crosswalk and holding up a stop sign, according to the police department.

"The driver's vision was obscured by direct sun and a dirty windshield. As the driver passed through the intersection, the right-side mirror of the vehicle hit the crossing guard, causing her to fall to the pavement," police said in a prepared statement.

The woman was setting up traffic cones in preparation for students, according to police. No one else was in the crosswalk at that time, and police do not believe any students witnessed the crossing guard being hit. The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for a broken elbow and ankle that will require surgery. The driver, who was cooperating with police, was given a citation for failing to yield to a crossing guard.

An online fundraiser* to help with medical costs identified the crossing guard as Katrina Christensen. The fundraiser said she is "so amazing at her job and is kind and welcoming to everyone she helps cross the street."

The incident serves as a reminder for all drivers this time of year to be extra cautious during the morning and afternoon, said Mapleton Police Sgt. Michael McCoy. He noted that vision due to sunlight on east-west roads can be difficult and encouraged drivers to play it safe and slow down, especially if views are obstructed.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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Pat Reavy

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Pat Reavy interned with KSL NewsRadio in 1989 and has been a full-time journalist for either KSL NewsRadio, Deseret News or KSL.com since 1991. For the past 25 years, he has worked primarily the cops and courts beat.