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NORTH SALT LAKE — A close friend of the man killed Sunday in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 15, who also witnessed that crash, is sharing an important message while remembering his friend's life.
The death of Greg Workman has left not just his family, but motorcycle riders across Utah in complete shock.
The Utah Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash and is looking into potential impairment by the wrong-way driver as the cause.
Workman stood out in the local motorcycle community, and not just because he rode a bright green Kawasaki 400 with a Kermit stuffed animal perched on the back.
"Anytime anybody talked about a ride, he was there. Anytime anybody needed help, or a suggestion, Greg would be the first one to comment, and he was just very supportive," said Stephan Burgin, one of Workman's friends.
Burgin didn't just consider Workman a fellow rider, or a friend. He was family. The two met up with a third buddy on Sunday and headed out on a ride to Wendover. Burgin described how they were just relaxing and having fun.
"We were having a good time, it was a great day," Burgin recounted. "As a rider myself, no matter the wind, how cold it is — going on a ride like that with your best buds, you can't ask for anything better."
He didn't realize just how much that ride would mean to him until Burgin and Workman headed up north on I-15 in North Salt Lake on the way home Sunday.
They were laughing over the Bluetooth headsets, Burgin explained, talking about how cold it was and how Workman was all geared up while Burgin was only wearing a sweatshirt and tennis shoes.
"Greg actually made a joke where I laughed so hard, I put my head down. And it was when I looked up, I saw the headlights," Burgin recounted, becoming emotional. "And I just, my instant reaction was to twitch and swerve over and I ended up just barely getting into that number one lane. And as soon as I straightened out, I looked in my mirror and I just saw a huge cloud. And then I saw his body flying in the air."
Workman died on impact.
The driver hit Workman's motorcycle and two other cars, state troopers said, after getting onto I-15 one exit up going the wrong way.
Anytime anybody talked about a ride, he was there. Anytime anybody needed help, or a suggestion, Greg would be the first one to comment, and he was just very supportive.
–Stephan Burgin
UHP says they're considering impairments in the wrong-way driver, which could have caused the crash.
That driver, UHP said, is in the hospital in critical condition. The people in the other vehicles were not seriously injured in the crash.
"If you have a sip of anything in your system, do not get behind that wheel," Burgin urged. "Do not drive backward on the freeway. Do not think you're OK."
Family members announced a vigil for Workman is planned for Saturday at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake.
