Utah Truck Accident near Salt Lake City: Police Suspect Driver Drunk

Posted By Ron Kramer on January 15, 2010

A single-car Utah auto accident that happened on Thursday, January 14, 2009 critically injured 48-year-old, John Weitzel. He was driving on interstate 84 when his truck hit a barrier and fell from the highway overpass. This accident is the third since November in nearly the same place: the connector that takes vehicles from southbound I-15 onto I-84.

UDOT officials say they will install an electronic LED sign to warn motorists to slow down before approaching this location. Weitzel was driving a Chevy pickup at around 9:30 a.m. when he lost control. His truck hit the side barrier and fell 28 feet onto its roof before landing right side up on I-15.

Standard.net reports that Weitzel suffered serious head injuries, broken bones, and a punctured lung. Doctors list him in extremely critical condition.

Witnesses told police that the Weitzel was driving recklessly and swerving in and out of lanes. Like the two previous Utah auto accidents at this location, speed was a factor. A pregnant woman, who was a passenger in a semi-truck, was killed on the same ramp on November 10, 2009. On December 19, a semi-truck carrying onions crashed taking the same curve.

With so many accidents at the same location in a short amount of time, it seems that there are not enough warning signs to warn motorists to slow down before approaching the connector. Drivers have to slow down to at least 45mph to make the abrupt turn. Drivers who are not alert may miss the sign and be going to fast to make the sharp turn. I suspect that the semi-truck drivers missed a the speed change and were not able to stop their heavy trucks before the turn. UDOT has notified trucking companies who often use the ramp, that their drivers need to slow down on the connector.

With respect to Mr. Weitzel, he was suspected of driving under the influence, which caused him to miss the warning signs to obey the speed limit on the connector. I do wish him well as he fights for his life.

Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury lawyer with offices in Draper, Bountiful and Provo, Utah.

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