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SARATOGA SPRINGS -- A man is dead and three people are in the hospital after a violent head-on collision south of Saratoga Springs Wednesday morning. It happened by Pelican Bay near mile marker 18, approximately 10 miles south of State Road 73 (Lehi Main Street).
Troopers said 29-year-old Omar Ramirez Avila of Utah County was driving a silver Nissan, traveling north, and came upon a truck pulling a horse trailer.
Avila attempted to pass on a double yellow line and didn't get far before a car in the southbound lane was visible. Neither driver had time to avoid the collision.
Troopers say this highway has long stretches of no-passing zones, and drivers must be patient and cautious.
Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Emery Calkins said, "It's a very dangerous road. There is a lot of rolling hills. It's very easy to miss oncoming traffic or not be able to see them ... Follow the double yellow lines means don't pass, basically don't pass. We try to avoid situations like this."
Avila died at the scene. His passenger, who is his mother, was critically injured and airlifted to the hospital.
The two people in the other car both sustained injuries, but they were less serious. They were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
UHP investigators spent several hours investigating the crash. They used photogrammetry to help determine speed and other factors involved.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
