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SALT LAKE CITY - Two men sustained serious injuries when the motorcycle they were riding collided with an eastbound TRAX train near the intersection of South Temple and 200 West about 2:40 p.m. Sunday.
Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Josh Scharman said the two men were transported to a Salt Lake hospital in serious but stable condition. The men, who were riding on the same motorcycle, were also headed east along South Temple. The driver apparently turned left against the traffic signal in front of the train, which struck them. The train dragged the motorcycle for about 20 feet before stopping, Scharman said.
Neither the train's driver nor about 12 passengers was injured, said Utah Transit Authority spokesman Gerry Carpenter. The driver was placed on administrative leave pending investigation of the accident, he said.
Traffic at the intersection was tied up about an hour, Scharman said.
Victor Hester, who was performing landscaping work nearby, witnessed the accident. Neither man was wearing a helmet, he said. Hester, who said he was trained as a paramedic, attempted to assess the men's medical conditions before help arrived. Both men, whom Hester said were in their 20s, were able to speak before being transported to a hospital by ambulance.
"They were just worried about making to the Dew Tour before it closed," Hester said.
"One of them was trying to be funny. He asked, 'How's my motorcycle?'
"It was in about 17 pieces," Hester said.
Email:mcortez@ksl.com
