WASATCH COUNTY, Utah, July 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A 17-year-old boy from Bountiful is dead and two other people were transported to the hospital by helicopter after a head-on collision on SR 40 near Strawberry Reservoir Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The collision, near mile marker 45, occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m., said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Jacob Cox.
Cox said a 2014 Mazda2 was traveling westbound, while a 2003 Infiniti M45 was eastbound in the same area. The Mazda2 moved left into oncoming traffic in an attempt to pass another vehicle. The area is marked as a passing zone.
When the Mazda driver saw the Infiniti in the eastbound lanes, she swerved further to the left in an attempt to avoid a collision, but struck the Infiniti head on, impacting mainly on the passenger side of each vehicle. The Mazda2 continued off the roadway and down an embankment after the crash.
The female driver of the Mazda2, Tammy Johnson, 44, from Bountiful, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Intermountain Medical Center by helicopter. The passenger, Hunter Johnson, 17, from Bountiful, the driver’s son, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Infiniti, Jackson Pope, 35, from Murray, suffered a possible broken arm and was transported to Heber Valley Medical Center by ground ambulance. The passenger in the Infinity, Tess Kooring, 32, from Salt Lake City, sustained serious injuries and was transported to University of Utah Hospital by helicopter.
It is believed that seatbelts were worn by all occupants.
The highway was closed in both directions while troopers diagrammed the scene and investigated the crash.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for Johnson’s medical and funeral expenses. Please click here to visit the page.
