SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, May 19, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Utah Highway Patrol has identified the victims of a motorcycle accident on northbound Interstate 15 on Friday.
Michael Garrett, 50, of Taylorsville, has died as a result of the crash. His wife, 51-year-old Tina Garrett, who suffered a compound fracture of the leg among other injuries, remains in critical condition.
The two were transported to the hospital Friday night after the motorcycle they were riding was rear-ended by a van towing a trailer on Interstate 15 near 1500 South.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Nathan Croft said traffic was slowing to a standstill on northbound I-15, when the van, coming up in the right-hand lane, was unable to stop and skidded into the motorcycle with enough force to throw the bike off to the side of the road.
The van then crashed into an SUV that was ahead of the motorcycle.
Croft said neither of the Garretts were wearing helmets or other protective gear. Both were thrown off the motorcycle.
It was reported that the van that crashed into the motorcycle and the SUV skidded 220 feet from the point where the brakes were first deployed.
Croft expressed his concern that drivers in general are failing to leave enough traveling distance between vehicles, and this is a major factor in many highway crashes.
“The higher the speed,” he said, “the more travel distance you need.”
