Police are uncertain how the teen escaped from a secure treatment center for troubled teens, nor do they know why he was motivated to leave what is considered to be a safe environment. After wandering around, the teen broke into a house in order to eat, sleep and steal clean clothes. When confronted by the homeowner in the middle of the night, he apologized and gave back what he could, then fled. Though the owner called the police, he sensed the boy was in a desperate situation.
]]> Later, the boy found an unlocked Mercedes with keys in the ignition and stole it. After police were notified, they tracked down the car and tried to pull it over, but the teen only drove away from the police. At first, drove at the speed limit, but as police continued to follow him, his driving became more erratic. He began to weave in and out of traffic at a higher speed.Because of a department policy to avoid high speed pursuits unless the suspect is thought to have committed a serious crime, the Utah police backed off from their pursuit. The teen continued to speed along the roadway. At a red light, he crashed into an SUV that was driven by a 65-year-old woman, killing her. The young man was uninjured and tried to run from the accident, but police caught him.
For the victim's friends and family, they are likely stunned at the incident. Yet what makes this car accident more devastating is that it could possibly have been avoided. Subsequent investigations may focus on the security measures at the residential facility, and in particular, whether the facility was negligent in allowing the teen to escape. As the investigation continues, one goal will likely be to determine what can be done to prevent similar acts of desperation from resulting in unnecessary tragedy.
Source: Salt Lake City Tribune, "High-speed crash involving alleged teen runaway driver kills 1 in Provo," Lindsay Whitehurst, May 21, 2012
]]>The accident happened on earlier this month when two Utah grandparents were taking their young grandchildren, ages 12 and 2, out for a drive in their vehicle. Inside Provo Canyon, the driver, a 63-year-old woman, veered into the opposite lane inside of a traffic construction area. Unfortunately, this put her straight into the path of a Subaru which carried two adults and their 3-year-old child.
]]> The results of the collision were devastating. The grandparents died as a result of the injuries they sustained during the crash and both grandchildren were seriously hurt. Furthermore, all of the occupants in the Subaru were injured, including a 25-year-old pregnant woman who lost her unborn child likely due to the injuries that resulted in the crash. Currently, Utah Troopers are investigating the crash, though they believe the crash was not caused by the nearby road construction.Head-on accidents often have horrific results, and this incident was no different. Because of this accident, two grandparents will never have the chance to see their grandchildren grow up. Furthermore, one woman has lost her unborn child and three small children were injured. For the victims of this accident and the surviving families, it is hoped that they recover and find the strength to survive this tragedy.
As the ongoing investigation concludes, the survivors of the accident may find clarity and closure through the findings. Even if the party at-fault is not longer alive, those who were affected by their negligence may still have the ability to seek financial damages under Utah personal injury or wrongful death laws. Emerging details from the investigation will allow those involved to understand their legal rights and obligations as a result of the incident.
Source: Wausau Daily Herald, "2 die, 5 injured in 2-car crash in Utah canyon," May 7, 2012
]]>The incident in questions occurred one morning earlier this month. A 34-year-old woman was heading north on the interstate when she lost control of her small sedan. The woman, who apparently was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown out of her car as it overturned several times. Unfortunately for the woman, she landed in the southbound lanes where she was subsequently run over by an oncoming semi truck.
]]> When Utah Highway Patrol arrived at the scene, the woman had already passed away. It was not known whether her death was caused by the initial collision or being run over by the truck. So far, the semi truck involved in the accident has not been found, although several eyewitness descriptions have determined the type of trailer the truck was hauling. Utah law enforcement agents are currently investigating the accident and trying to locate the driver of the semi truck.What happened was terrible and it is certain that those who knew and loved the victim are devastated by the loss that resulted from the truck accident. Depending on the results of the investigation, the family may have the ability to file a civil claim. Once the truck driver is found, and if the truck driver is found to have been negligent in relation to the accident, it may be possible to file a claim for wrongful death.
Nonetheless, this tragic incident serves as a reminder of the need for truck drivers to carefully regulate their ability to drive. In many cases, drivers are exhausted from spending countless hours on the road, behind the wheel. This failure to adhere to safety regulations often ends in tragedy. As a result, motorists should drive carefully and be aware of any other drivers who may be liable to act without sufficient caution.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, "Payson woman ejected in rollover and then run over by semi," Bob Mims, May 3, 2012
]]>At this time, one more Utah family has been forced to live without the presence of a man dear to them, due to a fatal drunk driving accident. The incident happened after a 27-year-old man had been partying all night.
]]> After deciding to go home, the man made the decision to get behind the wheel of his vehicle. He sped down the road at an estimated 75 miles per hour and crashed into the victim's stopped car. The force of the impact launched the victim's car into the air. In response to the collision, the drunk driver left the scene of the accident, leaving the other driver at the mercy of the injuries sustained during the catastrophe.After leaving the site of the crash, the intoxicated man went to hide in a nearby window well. Thankfully, law enforcement officials located him and administered a field sobriety test. According to reports, his blood alcohol level was to be 0.19 percent.
The victim, a 31-year-old EMT, succumbed to his injuries one week after the accident. As a result of this development, the driver was charged with second-degree felony automobile homicide and class A misdemeanor driving under the influence. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison late last month.
Nothing can replace the life lost in this accident, as his family testified during the sentencing hearing. Though the surviving family members received a small sum of restitution as part of the criminal sentence, they may be able to file a claim for wrongful death. A successful claim may include compensation for any pain and suffering, as well as other damages caused by the tragic accident.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, "Driver sentenced in DUI crash that killed Utah paramedic," Jessica Miller, April 27, 2012
]]>This pattern of negligence can be seen all too clearly in a Utah case in which one man was killed in a head-on auto accident. Police investigators believe that alcohol is the primary reason behind this fatal collision.
]]> The accident happened during one recent evening in a relatively small Utah city. A 32-year-old man was driving a stolen car down a United States highway. Allegedly intoxicated, he crossed the center line while speeding, unaware that an SUV was traveling in the opposite direction, immediately in his path. The two vehicles collided head on.The driver of the stolen car was critically injured and taken to a nearby hospital, while the driver of the SUV, a 57-year-old man, died at the scene. Utah police continue to investigate the crash.
For the surviving family and friends of the man, there can be no words to express what they are feeling at this time. There is no apparent reason why this man was even on the road. Not only was he believed to be intoxicated, but the vehicle he was driving wasn't even his. As the investigation uncovers more information, the surviving family and loved ones of the man may elect to pursue a civil claim for monetary compensation for the other driver's negligence, regardless of whether or not criminal charges are pursued.
While no amount of money can right the wrong, a successful claim may provide some means of justice and closure from such a senseless tragedy. In circumstances where a negligent driver is also determined to have acted recklessly in causing the fatal accident, punitive damages may be in order.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, "Crashes near Moab claim two," Lindsay Whitehurst and Erin Alberty, April 22, 2012
]]>Earlier this month, the 33-year-old woman was driving on a state road in her Ford Mustang when she cut in front of another driver to turn merge onto the Interstate highway. As she was changing lanes, her car went slipped into the dirt barrier near the highway's on-ramp. This caused the front of her car to completely disintegrate, even to the point that her engine fell out. As her vehicle spun out of control, potentially due to some structural issue with the car, she smashed into a cement barrier.
]]> The woman was severely injured and sent to a regional medical center to receive treatment for her injuries, though she is expected to survive. The car that she passed was not unharmed. The woman's engine flew from her car and smashed into the other vehicle. Fortunately, the two occupants in the other vehicle were not injured, though they were admittedly shaken up by the experience.So far, Utah authorities are not sure as to what the cause of the accident was. They believe that speed might have been a factor; however, they are still uncertain as to why woman's car almost completely disintegrated. An investigation is under way to determine exactly what occurred.
Depending on the results of the investigation, certain options may be open to the victim of this car accident. If the car disintegrated due to malfunctions of the vehicle and contributed to the collision, the woman may have grounds to file a civil claim against the manufacturer. In this case, they would be held liable for producing and distributing a vehicle that was unfit for travel. When an accident investigation determines the cause of an accident, it is not always the parties directly involved that can be held liable, as there is a wide array of factors that can lead to a car accident.
Source: The Spectrum, "Woman survives crash after car disintegrates," Samantha Sadlier, April 12, 2012
]]>The force of the collision split the sedan in two, critically injuring the 47-year-old driver. The SUV, with its four occupants, then crashed into the other car, resulting in the death of the sisters and critically injuring their two husbands. The driver of the tractor-trailer was left unharmed.
]]> The sedan's driver was subsequently hit with criminal charges for two counts of automobile homicide and a misdemeanor count of speeding. Police say he was driving under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the car accident. Further, he has a prior conviction on his record for driving while impaired.Most recently, the man waived his legal right to a preliminary hearing on the homicide charges, and the case is bound for trial. His formal arraignment is now set to take place at the end of next month. If convicted, the man stands to be incarcerated for up to 15 years on each felony count.
The car accident shattered two branches of the same family. Not only did the sisters lose their lives, but their husbands were severely injured, and there was no further word on their current physical or emotional condition.
Utah law can hardly attempt to make amends for such a horrific accident, but it does provide for the right of surviving family to press a wrongful death claim on behalf of a deceased loved one who died due to the negligence of another party. Furthermore, the husbands themselves may have civil recourse to seek reimbursement for their own expenses and lost income, as well as for pain and suffering occasioned by the other driver's negligent conduct.
Source: Deseret News, "Man accused of killing 2 sisters in Carbon County crash ordered to stand trial," Geoff Liesik, April 10, 2012
]]>Two Weber County residents, a male driver and female passenger, attempted to pass a car during the middle of the afternoon on a state road. As they attempted to make this maneuver, the adjacent car took a left turn into their path, and the vehicles collided. The results were disastrous.
]]> The motorcycle struck the car's left front fender, and the two bikers were thrown into a nearby ditch. Neither rider was wearing a helmet, so both sustained head injuries in the collision. The woman was air-lifted to a hospital in Ogden, while the man was taken to another medical facility. The car driver was not injured in the crash.Motorcycle accidents are often frightening incidents that can dramatically change the lives of those involved. The loved ones of the injured individuals in the accident are no doubt worried about their medical condition and hoping for their recovery.
Depending on the results of the official accident investigation and other available evidence, it may be possible for the injured victims to file a personal injury claim. Once it has been established which party caused the collision, each individual involved can assess the information to determine their rights and responsibilities under Utah law. Sometimes, the facts indicate that more than one party was negligent, and the law typically resolves those disputes based upon the relative degree of negligence of each individual.
Source: Standard-Examiner, "2 Weber County residents injured in motorcycle crash near Honeyville," JaNae Francis, March 26, 2012
]]>The fatal collision occurred when the mother and daughter were crossing State Street at a crosswalk. A northbound vehicle navigated around stopped traffic, while driving over a concrete median in the process. The car struck both mother and daughter, seriously injuring them.
]]> Immediately following the incident, the girl and her mother were taken to a local hospital. A day later, the girl died from head injuries suffered in the collision. The mother has broken legs, a broken pelvis, a skull fracture and several other injuries. Even though the woman was hospitalized, she planned to attend her little girl's funeral.This car accident is nothing short of a senseless tragedy. Stopped traffic can be an inconvenience, but it is never worth risking the life of another human being under any circumstances. As the family continues to grieve, the results of the investigation will likely be helpful is determining exactly what occurred. While nothing can possibly atone for the loss of a child in such a tragic accident, Utah law does provide for the right of a victim's estate to pursue a wrongful death claim when a fatality is caused by the negligent or reckless conduct of another. Similarly, the law permits personal injury claims to recover expenses and provide for related damages when serious injuries are caused by another's irresponsibility behind the wheel.
Source: Deseret News, "Salt Lake community comes together to help family of 6-year-old killed while crossing the street," Mike Anderson, March 23, 2012
]]>The accident happened in Salt Lake City at the intersection of two major roads last summer. According to witnesses, the intoxicated driver was speeding eastbound, veering erratically through the traffic. As his Hyundai approached a red light at the intersection, he darted through and collided with a Mazda that was traveling in a southbound lane of traffic. The resulting car accident included five vehicles and claimed the life of a 31-year-old woman.
]]> The man is currently facing criminal charges of felony automobile homicide and two misdemeanor traffic violations. A criminal trial was scheduled to begin at the end of this month. Whether or not he is convicted, the result will not change what happened to the 31-year-old woman. Nevertheless, it is likely that her surviving family members hope that justice will prevail in the Utah court system.Adding to the tragedy of the catastrophic five-car pileup, the woman who passed away had many years left to live with her husband and develop her budding career. Shortly before the accident, the woman achieved a major career milestone as she completed the artwork for a book cover for publication. Those who were near to the woman will not be able to watch her career blossom, not will they be able to spend time with her.
Drunk driving is inexcusable under any circumstances. Accidents caused by drunk drivers are senseless tragedies, often causing unimaginable pain and suffering to all those who are involved. For those who become victims, laws in our state may provide some relief in the form of a civil wrongful death action brought forth by the family of a crash victim. Such a lawsuit seeks monetary damages against all parties whose negligence caused or contributed to the fatality, and a successful claim may help families gain an additional measure of justice in the wake of an accident.
Source: The Examiner, "Trial still set in fatal Utah car crash," Ike Larson, March 12, 2012
]]>The man did not even consider that the road he and his daughter were traveling would collapse. Driving toward their home on a state road, the man was not aware that the road had given out fifteen minutes earlier. According to Utah Highway Patrol, his Ford Excursion struck a piece of asphalt and sailed over a 30-foot wide hole that was said to be 20 feet deep. Crashing on the other side of the chasm, both father and daughter suffered serious injuries, which ultimately claimed the life of his daughter. A separate accident in the same location seriously injured another man that same night.
]]> To make this tragedy even more incomprehensible, the transportation department had been working at the location earlier that day. Road crews were attempting to clear a large pool of water created by a blocked culvert. There was no indication that the workers moved to close the road after they finished removing the water, even though they clearly did not resolve the entirety of the problem.It remains to be seen if the transportation department is found to have breached their duty to keep motorists abreast of significant dangers on the road. In many motor vehicle accidents, a driver is found to be a negligent party. In this case, it was not the lack of caution exercised by a motorist that led to an unexpected death, but it was the apparent lack of information provided to drivers on state roads. According to the suit, road workers should have known that the road could have collapsed as a result of the water buildup. Though the girl's family and friends will continue to mourn her absence for quite some time, a successful claim may help prevent a similar car accident from occurring in this way in the future. Innocent lives of Utah residents might depend on it.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, "Parents of Tabiona girl sue UDOT over fatal car accident," Roxana Orellana, March 7, 2012
]]>It started when a pickup truck attempted to make a left turn. As the pickup turned, it pulled directly in front of an SUV that had been traveling westbound on the local street. Suddenly, the SUV t-boned the pickup, which sent the pickup straight toward the sidewalk where the woman and her friends were standing. The woman's friends got out of the way just in time to avoid the Ford pickup. The victim wasn't so lucky.
]]> Authorities believe that the victim was struck by the pickup and dragged approximately 25 feet. Paramedics arrived at the scene, where they performed CPR on her. However, the efforts of emergency personnel were ultimately unsuccessful. She died shortly after arriving at the local hospital. The drivers of the two vehicles were also transported there for cuts and bruises from the accident, though they are expected to fully recover.For her friends and family, there are no words to describe how much her loss will be felt. As with serious accidents in the Salt Lake City area, the family of the pedestrian will likely rely on authorities to get to the bottom of what happened. There was no immediate word about potential charges emerging from the tragedy. In addition to taking formal statements from any eyewitnesses, police will likely focus on such items of evidence as skid marks, the position of the vehicles and the location of the victim's body in relation to where she was standing at the time of the fatal collision. These and other gathered facts will help make a determination as to which party or parties should be held responsible for the fatal collision.
Source: KSL Utah, "Pedestrian on sidewalk hit, killed by truck," Faith Heaton, March 5, 2012
]]>According to local police, the accident occurred at 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of two streets. An eyewitness report states that the car had stopped at a red light. However, when the light turned green, the car swerved erratically, finally rolling over and crashing into a light pole. At this point, there is no indication that the driver was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. An investigation into the cause of the accident is currently in progress.
]]> The driver, a 17-year-old boy, was killed at the scene of the accident. The rest of the passengers were flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in serious condition. Two of the back-seat passengers were released from the hospital, but the front-seat passenger is still in serious condition at the hospital. Fortunately, all of the passengers are expected to survive.For the teenage victims of this car accident, there is nothing that can erase the pain and suffering caused by such a tragic incident. However, Utah law allows victims suffering serious injuries in car accidents to seek monetary compensation caused by the negligence of other parties. Depending on whether or not the negligence of a party associated with the accident contributed to the collision, the victims of an accident, or their survivors, may be able to pursue a legal claim to cover expenses and suffering related to the accident.
Source: The Salt Lake City Tribune, "Two of surviving teens in Sandy fatal crash released," Bob Mims, Feb. 29, 2012
]]>According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the accident occurred 10 miles south of Tooele. The vehicle involved apparently strayed into traffic. When the mistake was realized, the driver overcorrected the vehicle. Unfortunately this caused the vehicle to roll over, injuring the driver and the passengers inside the vehicle. An investigation to determine what caused the driver to drift is currently in progress.
]]> The exact extent of the victims' injuries was not available, though several occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Three were in critical condition and were airlifted from the scene for further medical care. The remaining four people involved in the accident suffered serious injuries and were transported to a Tooele County hospital. It is not known whether the occupants in the vehicle were wearing seat belts during the time of the accident.Rollover accidents often have severe consequences, including serious injury and even death. In Utah, car accident victims who suffer serious injuries may be entitled to receive monetary compensation from accidents caused by the negligence of others. Depending upon the outcome of the investigation and other available facts and circumstances, victims of the car accident may choose to seek compensation for the injuries received as well as for any related pain and suffering occasioned by the negligence of another party.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune, "Seven injured in single-car rollover in Tooele County," Janelle Stecklein, Feb. 18, 2012
]]>Recently, the woman and her two kids were driving when a cement truck struck their vehicle while they were trying to turn left. As a result of the truck accident, the two children, a two-year-old girl and a seven-month-old boy, and their mother were all hurt in the collision. The young boy suffered minor injuries, while his mother and sister suffered more serious injuries. Though she received treatment at a local hospital, the little girl did not survive her injuries. Since the accident, the mother has undergone multiple surgeries.
]]> The family of the victims takes issue with the dangerous intersection. Every time someone attempts to take a left turn, they are putting their safety on the line, according to the girl's grandparents. Shortly after the accident, the Salt Lake City's mayor provided information about how the family can work toward improving the safety of the intersection.The primary goal of the family is to make sure someone else doesn't have to suffer like they did as a result of an accident. They intend to work on this project until something is done about the intersection's apparent lack of safety.
Nothing could truly make-up for the loss of the two-year-old girl, but her relatives are doing their best to cope with their loss and preserve her memory. No one should have to suffer the loss of such a young person. The family will lose out on so many years they could have spent with the girl. No one can underestimate the time it will take for the family to heal from this tragic accident.
Source: KSL 5 News, "After granddaughter dies in crash, couple sets out to make intersection safer," Ashley Kewish, Feb. 12, 2012
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