This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two West Valley City children hit by an SUV on Tuesday are improving.
The brother and sister, 7 and 9, were flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in critical condition Tuesday. Neighbors said Wednesday night the daughter woke up and was able to speak to her mother. The boy is still in a medically induced coma.
Unified Police Department spokesman Justin Hoyal said Friday that both children suffered head injuries and other broken bones, but "they are both improving."
The Granite School District says the children, who live north of 4715 South, normally ride the bus to school but for some reason decided not to that day.
"The bus was waiting for them that day," said spokesman Ben Horsley. He said the bus didn't leave the school that day until a minute after the accident occurred near 4180 West.
"This is a tragic accident, and our hearts and thoughts are with this family and these children as they recover," he said.
Horsley said the majority of students live south of the busy street, but there are around 250 students who live north of 4715 South who are bused to David Gourley Elementary, which is in Kearns, every day for safety reasons. Typically students who live within two miles of the school are asked to walk.
Salt Lake County's public works department will assess the road and decide whether changes need to be made by Wednesday.
Salt Lake County Public Works Operations Manager Leon Berrett said residents had not complained about the roadway being unsafe to cross, but there were complaints about heavy traffic.
Berrett said because of those complaints, the county originally planned a road safety audit in the summer.
Signs and a crosswalk, which would roughly cost $1,000, could be installed within weeks depending on weather, Berrett said. Adding flashing yellow lights at a pedestrian crossing or installing a traffic light isn't likely at this time, he said.
Putting in a crosswalk is a start, said concerned parent Alejandra Madrid, but shouldn't be a finishing point
"More should be done," said Madrid, who drives two of her children to David Gourley. "There is too long of a gap between one light and the other."
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