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SALT LAKE CITY — The start of Utah's "100 Deadliest Days" did not go as the Utah Highway Patrol had hoped, despite several campaigns heading into the holiday weekend reminding motorists to be safe.
"It was not a great weekend as far as crashes and fatalities and speeding," said UHP Sgt. Cameron Roden.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, six people were killed in crashes on Utah's roads, with four of those fatalities happening on the freeways. Last year, one person was killed on the freeway during the same time period.
Additionally, the number of total crashes and the number of motorists stopped for excessive speeding were up from a year ago, according to UHP statistics.
More than 2,500 drivers were pulled over for speeding by Utah Highway Patrol troopers from Friday through Monday, compared to just over 2,000 last year, according to statistics. A total of 130 people were stopped for going at least 100 mph, compared to 66 in 2021. Of those drivers, 21 were cited for investigation of reckless driving or going 105 mph or faster, something troopers have been able to do since a change in Utah law that began on May 4.
In addition, troopers responded to 205 crashes compared to 179 last year, cited 53 people for DUI compared to 41 a year ago, and stopped five wrong-way drivers.
"It is frustrating," Roden said. "We try to do as much messaging as we can. Then, ultimately, we have a weekend like that. It's sad when you see this much devastation."
Last year during the 100 Deadliest Days — bookended with Memorial Day and Labor Day — 103 people were killed on Utah's roads, the second-highest number in the past nine years in the state.
Roden said the UHP will continue with its safety messaging and campaigns aimed at keeping motorists safe, but ultimately, it's up to the public to make changes in their driving behaviors.
Troopers also conducted a commercial vehicle enforcement operation over the weekend in the St. George area. Of the 49 big rigs that were stopped and inspected, three drivers and one semi were placed "out of service" for violations, according to the UHP. One commercial vehicle was pulled over for going 103 mph in a 70 mph-zone.
