Pedestrian struck, seriously injured Monday in central Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS — One man was hospitalized and a driver was cited Monday, Feb. 27, after a vehicle struck a pedestrian in central Sioux Falls.

The crash took place near the intersection of Ninth Street and Cliff Avenue at 7:45 p.m., where a male pedestrian was attempting to cross five lanes of traffic.

According to the Sioux Falls Police Department, the pedestrian was walking across Cliff Avenue when a southbound male driver struck the pedestrian. The 52-year-old pedestrian was taken to a Sioux Falls hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police spokesman Sam Clemens on Tuesday said an initial investigation of the crash scene indicates that the pedestrian was crossing the road to the south of the intersection, and was not in a crosswalk when he was struck. The 22-year-old driver told police that he did not see the pedestrian due to weather conditions and the pedestrian’s dark clothing.

“If a pedestrian is crossing any intersection, there's essentially a crosswalk that’s there, whether it's marked or not. If they would’ve been crossing curb to curb at an intersection, the pedestrian then has rights and is protected,” Clemens explained. “In a case where they’re crossing outside of that crosswalk, that would be considered jaywalking. The pedestrian can cross outside of that, but they have to yield to traffic — you’d have the duty to make sure you’re not going to impede traffic at all.”

The driver was not initially charged in connection with the crash, but was cited for driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and Clemens said future charges against the driver are possible, but unlikely.