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DRAPER — A man involved in a fatal multi-car collision Thursday was suspected in a domestic violence incident shortly before the crash, Draper police said.
He'd also been drinking at the time.
Bill Robert Thompson, 44, ran a red light on Lone Peak Parkway at 12300 South just after 6:30 p.m. and struck several cars, setting off a pileup collision that involved six other cars, police said.
The driver of one of the cars involved — 43-year-old Susan Madsen — was killed, while multiple people were treated for serious injuries.
About 15 minutes before the crash, officers responded to a domestic violence call at a home in Draper, but the man involved had already taken off, police said Friday. When news came in of the crash at 12300 South, officers realized the pickup Thompson was driving matched the description of the car in the domestic violence investigation.
In addition, several minutes before the crash Thompson intentionally bumped into another car with his pickup on 12300 South and fled, police said.
Thompson sustained significant injuries in the crash and was being treated at an area hospital. Once released, he was expected to be booked into jail on multiple felony charges including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, aggravated assault, and domestic violence in the presence of a child, police said.
A search of court records revealed a long history of traffic citations for Thompson.
Bill Mauss became emotional Friday as he talked about Madsen, his neighbor of several years. The Madsens have five children, ranging in age from 10 to 16.
"She was a great soccer mom, great mother to the kids. People loved her," Mauss said, recounting her devotion to her family. "She was just a great individual. Losing her is a tragedy."
Draper Mayor Troy Walker said the community is mourning Madsen's death.
"My wife, who knows Susan, called me in tears. Susan gave so much to the Draper community," Walker said. "We ask community members to pray for Susan's daughter, for her speedy recovery and for the family's heartbreaking loss."
Brent Somers, a spokesman for the Madsen family, said the family's injured daughter was alert and speaking Friday. Madsen's husband and the girl's father was out of town at the time of the crash and returned to Draper on Friday.
Madsen was bringing her daughter home from a soccer match when the crash occurred, Somers said.
Contributing: Sandra Yi
