Payson Roundup

Andy Towle/Roundup - atowle@payson.com

Payson police officers and firefighters rushed to help a 15-year-old hit Tuesday while crossing at the intersection of Highways 87 and 260.

A 15-year-old from Payson High School was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle in the intersection of Highways 260 and 87.

The teen was crossing westbound from McDonald’s going toward Walgreens drug store, a site which has no crosswalk, when he was hit by a northbound white pickup truck entering the turning lane around 12:15 p.m., said Payson Police Chief Don Engler.

The 34-year-old driver of the pickup truck had intended to turn onto West Longhorn Road when the right side of the vehicle struck the teen throwing him to the ground.

Reportedly, the teen was trying to catch up to a larger group of teens that had crossed earlier.

After striking the teen, the driver of the pickup stopped and waited on scene while several witnesses called police to report the accident, Engler said.

Firefighters from the Payson Fire Department treated the teen on scene and he was then transported to the helipad at Payson Regional Medical Center where he was flown to a Valley hospital.

No condition report about the teen was available at press time.

Engler said an investigation is continuing and no citations had been issued.

This is the first time this school year a teen has been stuck at that intersection, Engler said.

Engler stressed that it is important for all pedestrians to use the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection, “especially since that is where two state highways intersect.”

Engler said there would be additional officers in the area to stop this type of accident from happening again.