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SALT LAKE CITY -- Investigators say road rage led to a fatal crash on State Road 201 Thursday night.
Utah Highway Patrol says a woman driving a white SUV and a man driving a gray van got into some sort of road rage incident as they were westbound near 5400 West around 5 p.m.
37-year-old John Watkins apparently cut off 52-year-old Sandra Harper as they were headed westbound on SR 201 near 5400 West Thursday night. Harper then got upset, got in front of Watkins, and then hit her brakes.
Investigators say Watkins then got into the lane next to Harper, and with the intent to scare her, veered his vehicle towards hers. He swerved too far and ended up hitting her.
"That van came across the path of the SUV and clipped it," UHP trooper Sgt. Jason Hunter said. "(It) caused the SUV to roll onto its top and the SUV came to a stop next to the field fence. The van then continued to lose control and went though the field fence and came to rest on the frontage road"
Witnesses told investigators that Harper was initially talking to them after the crash occurred, however a few minutes later her condition deteriorated, and she died on scene.
Her 34-year-old son was in the vehicle as well, and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Investigators say both Harper and her son were wearing seatbelts.
Investigators questioned Watkins Thursday night, and took a blood sample, because they believed he may have been under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred. He has now been released while investigators wait for the results of a toxicology report.
Once they finish their investigation, they'll turn the case over to the district attorney, who will decide whether or not to file charges against him.
E-mail: Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.
