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Man sentenced up to 10 years in prison for killing 2 people in 2023 Eagle Mountain road rage crash

By Curtis Booker - | Jan 6, 2025
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This undated photo shows Michaela Himmleberger and Rodney Salm.
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A truck involved in a fatal collision in Eagle Mountain is photographed Sunday, June 4, 2023. The truck's driver, later identified as Peterson Drew Matheson, was charged with two felony counts of manslaughter.

The driver who pleaded guilty to killing two people during an Eagle Mountain road rage crash in 2023 could face up to 10 years in prison.

At a hearing in 4th District Court in Provo on Monday, Peterson Drew Matheson, 31, of Eagle Mountain, was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms, both ranging from zero to five years behind bars, Fox 13 reported.

In November, Matheson pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter for his role in an incident on state Route 73 in Eagle Mountain that killed two other motorists, Rodney Salm and Michaela Himmleberger.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said Matheson was driving a Ford F-150 on June 4, 2023, when he became angry with another driver. He later reportedly lost control of his vehicle and collided into a Porsche 911, killing Salm and Himmleberger, who were out for a drive that afternoon.

During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors hinted that the other driver also could face charges for their involvement in the crash and subsequent deaths, KUTV reported.

Fourth District Judge Robert Lund, who is set to retire this month, reduced Matheson’s charges from a second- to third-degree felony following an agreement made by attorneys representing Matheson and the victims’ families, according to KSL.com.

Lund also reportedly said that even though the other driver likely initiated the act of road rage, Matheson’s actions were more aggressive.

Peter Salm, Rodney’s brother, previously told the Daily Herald that while wishes no ill will toward Matheson, he hopes that he’ll learn from the consequences of his actions.

“I don’t hate him,” he said. “I hope he takes it to heart and understands that what I did was really stupid.”

Salm said he also wants to see the other driver face accountability for their role in the incident.

As for Matheson, according to Utah law, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will make the ultimate call on the length of his prison sentence.