A Santaquin woman was killed after her car was forced off Interstate 15 in Payson by a reckless driver, according to Utah Highway Patrol.

UHP spokesman Trooper Cameron Roden said 28-year-old Melissa Sandoval was driving north on I-15 around 7:15 a.m. Thursday when a semitrailer hit her 2001 Ford PT Cruiser twice. On the second hit, Sandoval's car veered into the freeway median and crossed over into the southbound lanes, where she hit another semitrailer that was towing an empty tanker.

Sandoval, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from her car and died at the scene, Roden said.

Her car came to rest on the southbound shoulder, while the tanker she hit detached from the truck and hit the median. Southbound I-15 and one northbound lane were closed south of the Payson Main Street exit until about 11:30 a.m.

According to Roden, witnesses told UHP that the first semitrailer was driving recklessly. The driver, 43-year-old Marcus Winzer of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment.

He was also charged with a logbook violation for exceeding federal standards that regulate how long truck drivers can be on the road, Roden said.

The driver of the semitrailer that Sandoval ran into was also arrested, Roden said, though he wasn't at fault in the accident.

John Caouette, 59, of Salt Lake City, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Roden said Caouette's company requires chemical tests for any driver involved in an accident, and Caouette tested positive for marijuana.

• Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it