Neighbors push for safety changes after suspected DUI crash kills Sandy man

SANDY, Utah — Flowers and handwritten notes now rest at a stop sign near 11000 S. and 1000 E., marking the spot where friends said Josh Perry was crossing the street Thursday night when he was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver.

As Perry’s family and friends mourn, neighbors near Alta High School are calling on the city to take immediate action at what they describe as a notoriously dangerous intersection.

“Going into work today was a very hard day,” said AJ Medina, who worked alongside Perry for eight years. “It just wasn’t the same.”

Medina said Perry was more than a coworker — he was a mentor and a friend.

“He took me underneath his wing,” Medina said. “He was an amazing family man. He did nothing but take care of his wife and kids.”

Those who knew Perry said his personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

“It didn’t matter if he had a horrible day,” Medina said. “He would walk into a new situation and just start cracking jokes. He could make anyone laugh. He was caring. He would answer your calls night or day.”

Police said 55-year-old Zoe Blankenstein, who is suspected of driving under the influence at the time of the crash, hit and killed Perry.

While Medina grieves the loss of his friend, nearby residents say they are channeling their frustration into action.

“I’m a concerned neighbor — a father,” said Josh Karr, who lives nearby but did not know Perry personally. “When this happened, I knew that I needed to take action, that I needed to stand up for safety.”

Karr has started a petition urging Sandy City to install an emergency traffic signal at the intersection. He said over the past three years, there have been 10 crashes at the location.

He believes a traffic light could lower that number.

Sandy City officials said a long-term solution is already in place. By 2030, the city plans to install a roundabout at the intersection. Officials recently released a statement acknowledging community concerns.

Sandy City leaders are most certainly aware of the petition along with the many expressions of concern regarding safety at the light at 11000 S. 1000 E. Our traffic engineers have also recognized the need for enhanced safety measures at this intersection. Through many traffic studies and work with outside engineers, they determined that the best option to improve traffic flow and safety is a roundabout.  The city has worked to find funding, and grant money has been awarded through the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

In the meantime, I have reached out to Mr. Karr directly suggesting he schedule a meeting directly with the mayor and our traffic engineers to discuss what they envision for the neighborhood.  We intend to work with our residents to implement the best, and most efficient options to improve safety. Sandy Mayor Zoltanski and our city public works director will be addressing this Tuesday morning and we will have a report for the council during the scheduled Sandy City Council meeting at 5:15 pm.  The public is welcome to attend.

Finally, on behalf of Sandy City, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Perry family in their time of loss.  No family and no community should be forced to deal with a senseless tragedy like this.  We must all be aware of our surroundings when we drive, obey traffic laws, and DON’T drive impaired.”

But Karr says a roundabout alone won’t solve the problem,“ I think in some cases a roundabout makes sense,” he said. “Here, I don’t think it makes sense.”

For Medina, the tragedy has also reignited anger over impaired driving.

“It’s inexcusable nowadays,” he said. “There’s no reason for it.”

The Sandy City Council will discuss the intersection during its meeting Tuesday night with public comments scheduled after 6 p.m. Neighbors can find Karr’s petition on Change.org calling for immediate safety improvements at the intersection.

A GoFundMe* account has been established for those who would like to help Perry’s family financially

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*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL’s editorial standards are upheld.

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