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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Highway Patrol is disappointed with how the holiday weekend turned out on Utah's roads.
"It was not a good weekend for us," said UHP Sgt. Todd Royce.
From Wednesday through Sunday, seven people were killed in three separate crashes in Utah. The worst crash occurred on Saturday when a head-on collision killed five people near Newcastle in Iron County.
That number has the potential to go up to nine deaths from the holiday weekend, Royce said, as victims in two other incidents remain in critical condition in hospitals.
Robert Harsh, 19, was hit and killed while crossing Redwood Road and 4200 South on Wednesday.
On Friday, Elrod Taylor Woodbury, 83, of North Logan, was killed when he was hit by a truck while riding his bicycle across Main Street.
On Saturday, Chevy Suburban driven by 19-year-old Fernando Ruiz was headed east on state Route 56 about 4:30 p.m. when the vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane. The Suburban slammed head-on into a westbound Ford Escape, sending the vehicle off the side of the road, where it rolled onto its roof, the UHP reported.
All four occupants of the Escape were killed. The UHP identified them Sunday as the driver, Jesus Jimenez-Lopez, 58; Lydia Jimenez, 57; Jose Jimenez, 60; and Juan Antonio Jimenez Sanchez, 19. Ruiz’s Suburban burst into flames after the SUV collided, according to the UHP. Ruiz also died at the scene
A motorcycle crash Sunday on I-15 in Washington County left a man in extremely critical condition. Likewise, a 10-year-old boy also remained hospitalized Monday in extremely critical condition from a crash on I-70, according to Royce.
There were a total of 173 crashes on Utah's freeways over the holiday weekend. A "crash" is defined by any incident that causes at least $1,500 damage, he said.
Also over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend:
- Troopers arrested 50 drivers for investigation of DUI.
- Nearly 3,750 drivers were either given a speeding ticket or a warning.
- Troopers gave 870 people a ticket or a warning for not wearing a seat belt.
- Troopers stopped 5,752 vehicles.
