Actor is involved in auto-ped accident

Payson police are investigating an auto-pedestrian accident involving former child TV star Gary Coleman.

Coleman, who lives in Santaquin, was backing out of a parking spot at a local bowling alley when he hit a man he had been arguing with, as well as another vehicle, police said.

Whether Coleman hit the man on purpose was still being investigated Saturday, said Payson Police Lt. Bill Wright. The biggest problem officers have had so far is that neither Coleman nor the man who was hit has been very forthcoming with information, Wright said.

"We're currently trying to sort through those issues," Wright said.

The incident happened just after midnight Saturday at South County Lanes, 112 W. 900 North in Payson. Coleman, 40, was in the bowling alley. Colt Rushton, 24, also was there.

"We've been able to establish there was an argument between the two, due to pictures Rushton wanted to take. He took some of Gary Coleman, and (Coleman) wasn't happy about it," Wright said.

After the two argued, Coleman left the bowling alley, and Ruston followed, Wright said. It was unclear whether Rushton tried to take more pictures of Coleman once he was outside.

As Coleman was backing his vehicle to leave, he hit another car, causing minor damage, and he hit Rushton. Investigators were unsure about the sequence of events Saturday, Wright said. It was unclear whether Rushton or the other vehicle was hit first.

Rushton was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Wright said the investigation would continue during the next couple of days.

Coleman is best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes."

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