Jeep hits, injures 3 News employees

A car struck three Deseret Morning News employees on a sidewalk near the newspaper's offices Tuesday morning, critically injuring two of them.

"There was no time to react," said News employee Mark Reece, who was with his colleagues as they were struck by an SUV near 160 S. Regent St. at about 10:30 a.m.

One of the men, assistant photo editor Chuck Wing, had his leg amputated above the knee, according to family members.

Wing, Reece, Gary McKellar and Keith Johnson were on the sidewalk when a red 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which appeared to be trying to parallel park, hit the group.

"The truck suddenly jumped the curb, plowed over the (parking) meter and then plowed into us," Reece said. "He came up fast. I looked at him thinking, 'What are you doing?' "

Jared Bott, who witnessed the accident from across the street, said, "The car got stuck in drive and went full throttle." He said the vehicle was moving at "incredibly high speed" when it hit.

Wing and McKellar were pinned between the car and a building wall. Reece and Johnson were pushed out of the way. From that point, Reece said, everything was a blur. "How I didn't get hurt I don't know."

The driver got out of the car and appeared to be in shock, Reece said. His car was "revving pretty hard" before he turned off the ignition, Reece said.

Johnson, Reece and a bystander tried to move the car. Johnson finally reached inside the Jeep and started the car, Reece said.

Johnson was able to put the car in reverse, but it raced backward, dragging him 10 to 15 feet before he fell off.

The Jeep stopped after crashing into the entrance of the Walker Center parking structure.

Reece rushed to check on his friends. "I held Gary's hand and told him, 'You're going to make it. Hold on,' " Reece said. "It was so surreal. It was like a movie. I was like, 'This isn't happening; this cannot be happening.' "

McKellar was amazingly resilient, Reece said. He even managed to smile and give a thumbs-up as he was loaded into the ambulance.

Initially, however, the conditions of the men were extremely critical.

"This is very serious," Salt Lake City fire spokesman Dennis McKone said of the two taken to LDS Hospital — Wing and McKellar.