Two pedestrians were hit by a car while crossing 32nd Street on Thursday, requiring a 64-year-old Tucson, Arizona, man to be airlifted to a hospital in Grand Junction.

Durango Police Department Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop said about 4:30 p.m., a 28-year-old Durango man driving a Ford Explorer was headed south on East Second Avenue when he stopped at the four-way intersection with 32nd Street, wanting to make a left turn to head east on 32nd Street.

While the driver was stopped at the intersection, another car headed west on 32nd Street toward Main Avenue stopped right before the intersection at East Second Avenue and flashed the car’s headlights.

Traffic on 32nd Street has the right of way and no stop sign.

The Durango man took the flashing lights as a signal the car was letting him make the left turn, Dunlop said. As he pulled out into the intersection, he did not see two pedestrians crossing north on 32nd Street and struck them.

Investigators believe the car flashed its lights to signal to the pedestrians to cross.

Dunlop said the crash was a result of a misunderstanding between the two drivers and the Durango driver not fully paying attention because he did not notice the two pedestrians crossing the street.

The pedestrians were both from Tucson, Dunlop said. A 33-year-old woman was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center with serious injuries, where she remained Friday, Dunlop said.

The 64-year-old man also had serious injuries, but required transport to Grand Junction for further care.

The crash occurred in the same general area where the city is trying to install a bridge and underpass system to allow the Animas River Trail to cross the river and 32nd Street.

Authorities are not releasing the names of anyone involved until charges are filed. Dunlop said police are waiting to charge the driver until the extent of the pedestrians’ injuries is known, which may happen as early as Monday.

Dunlop said neither drugs, alcohol nor distracted driving is suspected in the crash.

jromeo@durangoherald.com