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Gene Kennedy ReportingSgt. Ted Tingey, Utah Highway Patrol: "It seems to happen every holiday weekend, whether it's Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July. Tragedy happens."
Even before we made it to Labor Day, there were nine fatal crashes in Utah this weekend. Brutal images of mangled vehicles and families that have to be told a loved one has died or has been seriously injured.
State troopers tell us most of the crashes could have been avoided.
UHP said it's simple but sad. People die because of their own mistakes; a crash Sunday morning is a perfect example.
It was supposed to be a routine soda delivery. The driver of a semi truck was heading from Colorado to Layton, but around 6 a.m...
Sgt. Ted Tingey, Utah Highway Patrol: "He's traveling westbound on I-80, about 10 miles inside the state line from Wyoming. Coming into a curve, failed to negotiate the curve, went off the embankment, rolled down the embankment. The vehicle did roll down into the center median. As a result of that, the cab was crushed in on the tractor."
Paramedics tried to revive the driver, but the injuries were too severe and he died. It's disheartening for state troopers and frustrating at the same time to have another fatal.
Sgt. Ted Tingey, Utah Highway Patrol: "We do all these media campaigns, these enforcement blitzes, and we just can't find a way to put a stop to it."
The reason, according to the Highway Patrol, is drivers keep making the same mistakes, in some cases, just irresponsible choices.
Sgt. Ted Tingey, Utah Highway Patrol: "Driving drunk, improper lane passing, falling asleep."
Asleep behind the wheel. That's what UHP believes led to the semi driver's death.
Human error is also to blame for a crash in Murray. Police say a drunk driver ran a red light at 5400 South and roughly 1000 West, t-boning the victim's car. The victim's injuries were so serious that person had to be flown by helicopter to the hospital.
The Utah Highway Patrol says three to four people die in the state every Labor Day weekend because of fatal crashes.
