Motorist hits pedestrian

SANDPOINT — A pedestrian was injured Friday after being struck by a motorist during the evening rush hour.

The collision occurred at the corner of First Avenue and Pine Street shortly before 5 p.m.

Sandpoint Police said Pam Aunan of Dover was crossing First from west to east at the same moment Wendy Woods rounded the corner from Pine to First and struck Aunan with a Chevrolet Avalanche.

Aunan was in the crosswalk with the pedestrian signal in her favor. Woods, meanwhile, had the green light to turn onto First. The Idaho Transportation Department traffic and pedestrian signals are in conflict with one another, a problem which afflicts several other signalized intersections in town.

“They will give the ‘walk’ sign at the same time the traffic is getting the green light,” police Chief Mark Lockwood said.

Aunan was taken to Bonner General Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, Lockwood said. Initial reports from the scene indicated Aunan suffered wounds to her head and leg, but did not lose consciousness after being struck.

Woods, of Sandpoint, was cited for inattentive driving after passing field sobriety tests.