TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Nov. 18, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Highway Patrol officials have identified a man killed in a motorcycle crash Friday night in the northbound lanes of Interstate 215 West.
The deceased is Ernie F. Huerta-Rodriguez, 24, of Salt Lake City, UHP Sgt. Nick Street told Gephardt Daily Monday afternoon.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Alan Jensen told Gephardt Daily at the scene that the male motorcyclist, later identified as Huerta-Rodriguez, was merging from 4700 South onto the northbound freeway when he lost control of the Yamaha bike and was struck by a white sedan.
The motorcyclist fell off the bike, and both the bike and the sedan traveled another 400 to 500 yards from the point of impact, with the bike under the car, Jensen said.
The Yamaha then burst into flames and the car also caught fire. Unified Fire Authority crews responded and extinguished the flames.
Huerta-Rodriguez died on scene, Jensen said. The driver of the sedan, the only person in the vehicle, was able to escape without injury.
Jensen said the road was shut down because of the amount of debris in the middle of the freeway. The accident happened during heavy, rush-hour traffic.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
