Daily Herald - Accident in Provo Canyon claims one life

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Accident in Provo Canyon claims one life

Daily Herald

An accident in Provo Canyon just after 10 a.m. Wednesday left one man dead and several people with minor injuries.

According to Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden, the accident happened at mile marker 11 on U.S. Highway 189, when a vehicle traveling east crossed the center line and hit an oncoming sport utility vehicle head-on.

The victim has been identified as Scott L. Roth, 32, of Provo.

UHP Sgt. Brett Christensen said Roth was driving a green Nissan Sentra when witnesses say he crossed the center line, crashing into a black Chevrolet Tahoe traveling the other direction.

The Tahoe had five occupants: two men and three children. The occupants of the SUV sustained minor injuries and were taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo.

"Their injuries are not life-threatening. They range from broken bones to cuts and bleeding and stuff like that," Christensen said.

Highway 189 was closed briefly after the accident. Christensen said there was one lane of traffic moving in each direction while the accident was cleaned up and that the road was clear by Wednesday afternoon.

The incident is the third accident and fourth fatality in Provo Canyon in the past six weeks. An accident on May 18 killed 9-year-old Daniel Lopez and 8-year-old Jennifer Lopez. On June 6, BYU track team member Chelsi Peterson was killed in an accident.

According to Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Thompson, there were five fatal accidents and six fatalities on all of U.S. Highway 189 in 2007.

Christensen said the road is safe for the type of terrain it goes through. He asked drivers to be careful.

"I don't think Provo Canyon is especially dangerous," Christensen said. "It's a canyon road. People need to understand that a windy canyon road can't be driven the same as a four lane Interstate freeway."

Christen said the road at the scene of Wednesday's crash is wide and has good visibility. UHP is still investigating what caused the driver to drift into oncoming traffic.

"I don't know how it can be a whole lot safer," Christensen said. "What it ultimately boils down to is driver error."

Thompson said there has been no talk at UDOT about making changes to the speed limit or to the road in Provo Canyon because of the recent accidents.

Article views: 4,908

Discuss (2 posts)

WaynesWorld

Jun 26 2008 21:59:52

This thread discusses the Content article: Accident in Provo Canyon claims one life

"I don't know how it can be a whole lot safer," Christensen said. "What it ultimately boils down to is driver error."

Thompson said there has been no talk at UDOT about making changes to the speed limit or to the road in Provo Canyon because of the recent accidents.Well of course Christensen would say that. Saying anything different would be inviting litigation.

The canyon road at least needs
more signs,
regular patrolling done by our law enforcement officers.

Also, at Vivian Park and other places drivers can enter the highway, line painting needs done to prevent drivers from ending up on the wrong side of the median. Signs need placed to warn the oncoming traffic of these turn-on points as well, to alert us that people may be entering the highway there.

We can all do something about the safety of such highways by driving the speed limit where-ever we may be. We set an example to impressionable riders when we drive.

Ignoring speed limits seems the norm these days, especially on interstate highways.

But that is a bad habit to get into...it catches up with us when we get into places like Provo canyon and Spanish Fork Canyon.

#376362

The Keeper

Jun 26 2008 22:05:50

WaynesWorld wrote:
This thread discusses the Content article: Accident in Provo Canyon claims one life

"I don't know how it can be a whole lot safer," Christensen said. "What it ultimately boils down to is driver error."

Thompson said there has been no talk at UDOT about making changes to the speed limit or to the road in Provo Canyon because of the recent accidents.Well of course Christensen would say that. Saying anything different would be inviting litigation.

The canyon road at least needs
more signs,
regular patrolling done by our law enforcement officers.

Also, at Vivian Park and other places drivers can enter the highway, line painting needs done to prevent drivers from ending up on the wrong side of the median. Signs need placed to warn the oncoming traffic of these turn-on points as well, to alert us that people may be entering the highway there.

We can all do something about the safety of such highways by driving the speed limit where-ever we may be. We set an example to impressionable riders when we drive.

Ignoring speed limits seems the norm these days, especially on interstate highways.

But that is a bad habit to get into...it catches up with us when we get into places like Provo canyon and Spanish Fork Canyon.

You omitted jumping out into oncoming traffic like it's the end of the world, then dragging backside down the road.

#376368

Discuss this article on the forums. (2 posts)