Prescription Drugs May Have Played Role in Fatal Accident

Prescription Drugs May Have Played Role in Fatal Accident


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Sandra Yi ReportingThere’s new information about the car crash that killed a Kaysville woman two weeks ago. We've learned police have arrested a man for allegedly giving the 20-year old driver prescription drugs just hours before she got behind the wheel.

Prescription Drugs May Have Played Role in Fatal Accident

Anthony Carrubba, UHP Trooper: "Mr. Sartain claims to only have given her one. I have a witness who was there who claims she may have taken as many as five or six."

Sarah Folkerson died at the scene of the crash on I-15, at about 400 North. State police arrested an 18-year old man who was with the victim the night before she died in that car crash on I-15. They say he admitted giving her a depressant called Lorazepam.

Sarah Folkersen died on May 1st when her car clipped a concrete wall, went into the median, and rolled four times. She was thrown out of the car and died at the scene.

Friends told investigators that Folkerson was at a coffeehouse the night before, and prescription drugs were being passed around. The drugs allegedly belonged to 18-year old Stephan Sartain.

Investigators say Sartain does have a prescription for the medication and takes it to treat anxiety. Folkerson was not drinking but may have willingly taken several pills.

The UHP is waiting for blood tests to come back to see how much of the drug may have been in Folkerson's system when she died.

Anthony Carrubba: "The levels are probably going to be pretty high. She was a fairly small person. She was only about 100 pounds and this was a fairly strong prescription medication that she was taking."

The drug Lorazepam is the generic for Ativan. Consumer information says it will cause drowsiness and dizziness, and to use caution when driving. Troopers say the drug is very potent.

Sartain was arrested on suspicion of distributing drugs -- he is not currently facing charges related directly to her death. He has been released from the Salt Lake County Jail. He has not been charged.

Troopers say there's no way to know if Folkerson would be alive today if she had not taken the pills. Investigators say fatigue could have also contributed to the crash.

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