Police investigating after three killed in four wrong-way crash over weekend
Mar 14, 2022, 6:30 AM | Updated: Apr 7, 2022, 4:43 pm
(UDOT)
(UDOT)
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — Police are investigating another wrong-way crash, this time in South Salt Lake.
Officers with the South Salt Lake Police Department said the crash happened around 11:45 p.m. Sunday on West Temple near 3300 South.
A driver was going east in the westbound lanes when their vehicle hit another car that was turning onto 3300 South.
Breaking Overnight: Wrong-way crash on West Temple near 3300 South being investigated as a possible DUI, according to SSLPD. #utah @KSL5TV #KSLToday pic.twitter.com/1THt6BQa9o
— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) March 14, 2022
Police said they are investigating the crash as a possible DUI.
Law enforcement puzzled over ‘epidemic‘ of wrong-way crashes
Three people were killed in two wrong-way crashes over the weekend. The first happened on Interstate 15 near 900 South in Salt Lake City.
Troopers said a white hatchback entered northbound I-15 from the 600 South offramp and traveled against traffic before striking an FJ Cruiser head-on. Both drivers were killed.
The second crash happened near 6800 South and Mountain View Corridor on Saturday when a southbound silver Kia hit a white Volkswagen head-on in the northbound lanes.
The driver of the Kia, a 29-year-old man from West Valley City, died at the scene. according to the Unified Police Department.
Sunday night’s crash in South Salt Lake was the 43rd wrong-way crash in the Beehive State this year, according to state authorities.
Trooper Andrew Battenfield with the Utah Highway Patrol said while you’re driving, it’s important to constantly look 10-15 seconds in front of you to give yourself time to get out of the way if you see a wrong-way driver coming.
Utah law enforcement puzzled over recent ‘epidemic’ of wrong-way drivers
UHP also wants you to call 911 if you see a wrong-way driver. That’s how one trooper knew about a wrong-way driver last month and was able to spin that car out of control before that driver possibly caused a fatal crash further down.
“I don’t know what’s causing the epidemic with wrong-ways right now, and over the years, I have seen a lot of wrong-way vehicles,” Battenfield said.
Police also responded to a crash on U.S. Highway 6 near I-15 in Spanish Fork on Saturday.
UHP Sgt. J. Dutson told KSL a call came in around 5:30 p.m. of a wrong-way driver hitting several vehicles and a semi-truck.
A Dodge Journey crossed over the double yellow lines and hit an oncoming semi-truck head-on before striking another car.
Troopers investigating ‘serious injury’ crash in Spanish Fork
Dutson said the driver and passenger of the Dodge were both transported to the hospital with various degrees of injuries, adding the passenger’s injuries were life-threatening. All other drivers and passengers were treated for minor injuries on scene.
That crash remains under investigation.
