Cellphone use linked to Clinton injury crash

Clinton Police Chief Bill Chilson says a woman and her son sustained minor injuries Thursday morning in a cellphone-related crash.

At first, it was thought there had been more serious injuries in the 8:30 a.m., one-vehicle accident at 1500 West and 1300 North. A medical helicopter initially was dispatched, but that flight later was cancelled when medical personnel determined neither of the victims were seriously hurt.

Chilson said it appeared the woman was stopped at an eastbound stop sign on 1300 North and was turning onto southbound 1500 West when the crash occurred.

"The driver said she was talking on the cell phone and then reached back over the seat to hand the phone to her male child, who was sitting in the rear seat," the chief said.

The car then struck a support cable on a power pole, flipped, hit the edge of an irrigation ditch structure and then rolled. The child was taken by ambulance to a local hospital to be checked out while the woman was treated at the scene and released.

Chilson said no citations were immediately issued, but the accident remained under investigation.

"They both were very lucky to get away with minor injuries in this," the chief said.

remims@sltrib.com