UHP gives update after another wrong-way driver causes crash overnight

Mar 14, 2022, 7:59 AM | Updated: Dec 29, 2022, 11:43 am

Only minor injuries after a wrong-way driver collided with another car. (UDOT)

(UDOT)

KSLNewsRadio

SOUTH SALT LAKE — The Utah Highway Patrol says seven people have lost their lives to wrong-way drivers since the beginning of this year. And the number of calls spotting wrong way drivers has also gone up 49% since this same time last year.

“The vast majority of the drivers that cause wrong-way fatal crashes are intoxicated, either on alcohol and/or drugs,” said Maj. Jeff Nigbur. “They’re significantly intoxicated.”

Nigbur says UHP and UDOT are creating a task force to try to identify any more patterns and to come up with solutions. But right now, they’re not seeing any.

“There’s a lot of randomness to this,” said UDOT Spokesman John Gleason. “We’re not seeing any one particular area that sees more wrong way drivers than any other.”

Two drivers experienced only minor injuries after yet another crash caused by a wrong-way driver overnight.

South Salt Lake Police responded to the crash around midnight on West Temple near 3300 S.

Police believe the driver was going east in the westbound lanes when they hit another driver. It is being investigated as a possible DUI.

A deadly weekend for crashes caused by wrong-way driver

Three people died in two separate crashes involving a wrong-way driver over the weekend.

Early Saturday, a crash between two cars killed both drivers when they hit each other head-on as one traveled the wrong way on 600 S. The driver who entered I-15 the wrong way was not wearing a seat belt.

The later Saturday, a 29-year-old West Valley man died in another wrong-way crash around 11 p.m. at 6860 South Mountain View Corridor.

Over forty wrong-way crashes since Jan. 1

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 43 wrong-way crashes as of the morning of March 14. This includes one on I-15 in North Salt Lake when a wrong-way driver struck a motorcycle and two other vehicles near 2600 S. back on Feb. 20.

Utah Highway Patrol reports there has been an “epidemic” of wrong-way drivers recently.

KSL TV reports on how you can be alert for wrong-way drivers when you’re out and about.

Utah law enforcement puzzled over recent ‘epidemic’ of wrong-way drivers

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hopping in the car with your favorite snacks in tow and heading out for a […]

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Utah’s mental health crisis is leaving many residents caught in an uncomfortable middle ground: struggling too much for weekly therapy alone, but unable to step away from work, parenting or daily life for inpatient treatment. As demand […]

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, managing side effects and wondering if this is simply how life is going to feel. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects […]

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

UHP gives update after another wrong-way driver causes crash overnight

A deadly weekend for crashes caused by wrong-way driver

Over forty wrong-way crashes since Jan. 1

Related stories:

We want to hear from you.

Southern Utah University grieves student, service member killed in Jordan

Feds, state officials probe Roy fire that torched 3 homes, but quiet for now on cause

Disaster recovery expert explains why flooding after the Cottonwood Fire creates new challenges in Beaver County

Great Salt Lake hits lowest level in more than 3 years, but managers say conservation is paying off

Lake Powell accident leads to 11 surgeries and uncertain recovery for 14-year-old Utah girl

Forest Service determines what sparked Utah’s largest fire so far this year

Sponsored Articles

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model