The University of Utah police officer who hit a pedestrian two weeks ago is back on patrol.
Police Chief Bob Wilson said an investigation by Salt Lake police traffic detectives found there was "inattention on the part of the driver and the pedestrian" but noted the pedestrian had the right of way as she was in a crosswalk.Officer Scott Nesbitt is back at work, but the administration hasn't decided whether to discipline him.
"We've made no decision on disciplinary action yet," Wilson said.
Viola Landfair, 58, was crossing South Campus Drive in a crosswalk about 9 p.m. Oct. 21 when she was hit by the U. police patrol car driven by Nesbitt, 24.
Landfair was taken to the hospital in serious condition but has since been released. Nesbitt's accident was the second in five months involving a U. police officer and a pedestrian.
The first was May 3. Officer Mikal Wersland struck and killed Samuel Storey, 33, as he crossed a street on campus. Storey was also in a crosswalk, but it was a darker area of the campus. That accident also happened at night.
In the wake of the two accidents, Wilson said he's making his officers take a defensive driving course.
"We're just trying to make everybody super conscious about their driving," he said.
Nesbitt was put on paid leave after the accident, and counseling was made available to him. He's been with the department a little more than a year, and except for the accident, he's had no disciplinary problems, Wilson said.