1 / 2

Because of the tragic deaths in the intersection of Highway 89 and Highway 6 in Thistle, the Utah Department of Transportation modified the junction so that travelers turning left onto Highway 6 from Highway 89 now have a better view of oncoming traffic. It is hoped that the change will eliminate future accidents there. (Photo courtesy of Al Erekson)

2 / 2

This heart was created in memory of Katie and Taylor Marcus, Ogden, on the hillside at the Thistle Junction of Highway 89 and Highway 6. Since then crosses have been added in memory of those who died at the intersection. (Photo courtesy of Al Erekson)

❮ ❯

THISTLE — Perhaps when drivers are traveling north on Highway 89 to the Thistle Junction on Highway 6 they have noticed a huge heart created from many colorful rocks on the hillside at the junction. As people are stopped at the stop sign it is pretty hard to miss.

The heart was created in September 2014 in memory of Katie and Taylor Marcus, Ogden, a young sister and brother who tragically lost their lives at the junction in an accident on April 3, 2014.

Just over a year later on Aug. 16, 2015, a mother and her young son, Heather and Broc Jacobson, Price, also died at the same intersection in a horrific accident.

After the heart was created it wasn’t too long before a cross was placed above the heart for Merlene Green, Fairview.

After doing a little research it was discovered that Green was also involved in an accident, in the exact same spot, and immediately lost her life on Oct. 3, 2003.

After considering the one cross, it was decided that all of the victims should have a cross to memorialize them. So two more crosses were lovingly placed on the hillside April 3, 2016, which was the second anniversary of the death of Katie and Taylor Marcus and one cross was added at that time for Heather and Broc Jacobson.

It is hoped that the heart and crosses will give people a moment to reflect on their own families and remind them to let family know how much they are loved, as everything could change in an instant.

Suggestions for improvement of the junction were made to the Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah Department of Transportation. The suggestions showed there was a fairly simple solution that might prevent the loss of any more lives at this intersection.

Drivers traveling Highway 6 noticed that around Oct. 2016 the turning lane to exit onto Highway 89 was reconstructed so that it splits off sooner and farther from the main road.

Now as vehicles are waiting to turn left onto Highway 6 at the stop sign the drivers have a much better view of oncoming traffic which is not blocked by the vehicles that are exiting Highway 6 onto Highway 89.

Sometimes drivers could not see a view of the vehicles behind those which were exiting Highway 6 and if they were not exiting that meant they were coming straight through and usually at full speed.

This exit modification is a great improvement, which comes too late for some, but not for countless, unknown others. Remember family, watch for traffic.