This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Cedar City teenager was in critical but improved condition the day after being struck by an SUV while riding his unlit dirt bike in the dark.
Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower said Tuesday that the 18-year-old boy's recovery likely will be a long one, but he was expected to survive. "He has a lot of injuries and is still critical, but has been stabilized," the sheriff said.
The teen remained in a Las Vegas hospital Tuesday, where he had been flown Monday night by medical helicopter. He was being treated for head and other injuries.
Gower said that in addition to the bike not having a headlight, the teen was not wearing a helmet. Instead, a relative was following behind him in a car, using its headlights in an attempt to illuminate the road ahead of him.
The accident occurred about 7 p.m. on Panorama Drive when the SUV pulled out of a driveway and struck the bike.
"This looks like just an unfortunate set of circumstances that developed," Gower said. "The [SUV's driver] said he could see the car's headlights down the road and thought he had time to pull out. He just didn't see the dirt bike."
Gower said it appeared the teen was about 100 feet ahead of the following car at the time of the crash.
The sheriff said it was unlikely any charges would be filed.