A man was hit by a truck while crossing E. Main Street this week in Cortez.
The man was taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital and released with minor injuries, said Assistant Cortez Police Chief Andy Brock.
The pedestrian was crossing to the north side of Main Street about 4 p.m. Wednesday when he was hit by a southbound truck turning left from N. Harrison Street to go east on E. Main Street.
No citations were issued at the scene, Brock said, and the incident remains under investigation.
A review of the intersection shows that when the crosswalk signal is not activated, a left-turn signal arrow turns green to allow for turning traffic.
When the crosswalk signal is activated, it shows the white walking symbol indicating it’s OK for pedestrians to cross; the left-turn signal is initially red.
Then the left-turn arrow turns to flashing yellow while the crosswalk signal remains white. The flashing yellow turn signal continues while the crosswalk signal countdown is initiated for the pedestrian to cross.
Vehicles turning left on a flashing yellow must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A sign on top of the signal instructs drivers to yield to pedestrians.
During a test at 5 p.m. Thursday, when crossing using the walk signal six separate times, one turning vehicle failed to yield to a pedestrian legally crossing in the crosswalk.
In April and September of 2020, two pedestrians died on U.S. Highway 160-491 in south Cortez after being struck by vehicles. The death in April was a hit-and-run. In the September fatality, the driver stopped and was found not at fault.
Also in January 2020, a pedestrian was struck and injured at the intersection of Mildred Street and Montezuma Avenue by a hit-and-run driver.
