Police ID driver in Millcreek Starbucks crash that left 1 woman dead, 2 others critically injured

MILLCREEK, Utah – Officials have released the name of the woman who was killed when a vehicle hopped the curb and plowed into outdoor tables at Starbucks off Highland Drive in Millcreek.

Salt Lake City resident, 48-year-old Joslyn Nicole Spilsbury was sitting at a table outside the Starbucks at 4744 South Highland Drive with two other people when the truck plowed into them, killing Spilsbury and critically injuring the other two. 

The 34-year-old driver, identified as West Walker from Oakley, was also critically injured and trapped in the vehicle. Emergency crews had to remove the top of his truck to extricate him.

Walker’s two children, ages 5 and 7, were in the truck when it crashed. Bystanders rushed from nearby stores to help pull them from the truck.

“We heard the sound from the vehicle hitting the building and then looked over and saw it flip over on its side,” said Deanna Brasher.

Brasher ran from the salon where she works and joined the group helping.

“One lady jumped on top of the car to get the kids out. Another lady was talking to the kids that were inside. Another man got up in the car to help get the kids out. He handed the kids to the girl on top and she handed them to me,” Brasher said.

Police said the boy and girl inside had minor injuries. Brasher was surprised at how calm the girl was. She said the girl told them she knew her mother’s phone number and they called her to come to the scene. Brasher said she was just doing what she hoped anyone would do in that situation.

“I think that most people are good people. If they’re in the area and can help, they will,” she said.

The incident happened at the Cottonwood Square shopping center around 9:15 a.m. Friday, just north of the Millcreek/Holladay border. Crews from the Unified Fire Department and Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

Sheriff Rosie Rivera said the truck came from the other side of the road.

It went through a parking lot between the Subway and Rancherito’s restaurants before crossing all lanes of Highland Drive and into the parking lot near Starbucks.

The truck hit a curb and rolled, then plowed into the where Spilsbury and two others were sitting, and slammed into a support pillar.

Several ambulances were dispatched to take patients to the hospital.

Highland Drive was closed from while emergency responders and investigators worked at the scene. The road remained closed for three to four hours.

A large area of the adjoining shopping area was blocked off while investigators tried to determine exactly what happened.

Sheriff Rivera said there was no indication the incident was intentional. They were looking into the possibility of some kind of medical emergency. Officials were working with neighboring businesses to see if any of them had surveillance video to help determine what happened.

None of the other victims’ names were released.

The Starbucks store and Sports Clips next door were closed.

“The building is not safe right now. Unified Fire is going to put up a structure to help us investigate,” said Sheriff Rivera.

A structural engineer was expected to respond to the scene to determine the integrity and stability of the building.

Anyone who witnessed the crash should contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

“Anybody that saw something, that could be really important information that we need to be able to figure out why this happened,” said Sheriff Rivera.