3 killed, 1 critically injured in head-on crash


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TOOELE COUNTY -- A violent head-on car accident in Tooele County kills three people and sends another to the hospital in critical condition. The accident happened around 4 p.m. Saturday on State Road 138 near the Historic Benson Grist Mill. The Utah Highway Patrol says 23-year-old Kendra Naisbitt, 17-year-old Bailey Corless and 20-year-old Taft Ahlstron all died at the scene of this violent accident.

Troopers say 18-year-old Jacob White was headed home toward Stansbury Park when he crossed the center line, hitting another car head-on.

It's a scene that shocked even seasoned troopers. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Clint Fawson said, "This crash is probably the worst crash I've seen in my career."

Fawson described the accident. "This crash, there was a lot of momentum," he said. "We don't know the speeds yet, but both vehicles were traveling at a good speed."

White was wearing a seat belt and was flown to the hospital in critical condition.

Investigators want to know why he crossed the center line. They don't believe weather was a factor, but there was little time to ask him what was. "He was in pretty bad shape," Fawson explained. "They were getting him in the helicopter as quickly as they could."

Naisbitt, of Bluffdale; Corless, of Grantsville, and Ahlstron, of Grantsville, were in the other car and died at the scene.

Fawson said, "The driver of the victims' vehicle was using a seat belt but had it strapped on improperly. The two passengers did not have any seat belts on."

Troopers say they've been noticing a rise in the number of accidents and caution people to slow down and stay alert on spring time roads. "I believe the warmer weather, people are driving a little faster with the clear roads."

Investigators have ruled out weather as a cause of the accident. They're also looking at thing like: if the driver was on a cell phone or had been drinking, but there are no indications right now of either of those.

E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com

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Sarah Dallof

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