Officer says speed a factor in North High Street crash

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Ambulance and fire personnel prepare to pull Hope Spencer from the wreckage of her car following a crash which injured her and her friend on North High Street Tuesday afternoon. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Two teens were injured Tuesday in a crash on North High Street which was witnessed by a police officer who had to swerve to avoid being included in the accident.

The driver of one of the vehicles, Hope Spencer, 16, along with her 18-year-old passenger whose name was not available at press time, were both taken to River Park Hospital by ambulance for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, Jacqueline Kuttianeh, was shaken but did not require treatment.

According to Patrolman Todd Rowland, the accident happened just after 3 p.m. Tuesday on North High Street, located between Locust and Morford streets, at the crest of a steep hill near a row of apartments.

Rowland, who was traveling behind Kuttianeh, said the woman attempted to make a left turn into the apartment complex but in doing so entered the northbound lane where Spencer was coming down the hill. The Spencer vehicle then struck Kuttianeh in the front passenger side.

The vehicle coming down the hill was doing about 40 or 45 it appeared,” Rowland said, noting while the wreck was technically Kuttianeh’s fault for failing to yield the right of way, the teen coming down the hill was going too fast and speed contributed to the accident.

Police say the steep hill on North High Street is often the site of speeding violations despite the fact it is a high-density residential section. A similarly steep hill on parallel Lind Street is also a frequent site for speeding.