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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- With 63 accidents reported last year, the intersection of 5300 South and State in Murray appears to ben the most accident-prone in Salt Lake County, a Salt Lake newspaper said.
The Deseret Morning News evaluated data compiled by nine law enforcement agencies in the county. Midvale had information available only for the first four months of this year.
Based on extrapolation of the 2004 reports, the newspaper figured Midvale's 7200 South and 700 West would have about 60 accidents per year, making in the second-worst intersection.
Third worst was 3500 South and 5600 West in West Valley City with 55 accidents.
Murray had two of the top five intersections. The intersection of 4500 S. State had 53 accidents in 2003, fourth-most in the valley.
The fifth was North Temple and Redwood Road in Salt Lake City with 42.
Murray police detective Rob Hall said he's not surprised at the number of accidents at the 5300 South intersection simply because of all the traffic in that area. The intersection is busy at all hours of the day, he said.
Murray High School is just a half block away on another corner.
"The sheer volume is going to give you more accidents," he said. "It's an access to a lot of places."
Bob Phillips, who works at 1st Choice Quick Lube Oil on the southwest corner of the intersection, said improper lookout from cars turning left is a big cause of accidents, and running red lights is another.
Even though the number of accidents is high, most of them are minor fender benders. Only 17 of the 63 accidents there resulted in injury, Hall said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
