PROVO, Utah – A series of fatal crashes on US Highway 189 near Deer Creek Reservoir has raised concerns about the safety of the road. This past Saturday, a 24-year-old motorcyclist lost his life after colliding with a Toyota Prius at the intersection with Main Canyon Road. This incident closely mirrors a similar crash in June, where a motorcyclist sustained substantial injuries after colliding with a vehicle at the same intersection. And in April, a wrong-way collision on the highway resulted in the deaths of both drivers near milepost 21, close to the intersection with Main Canyon Road.
According to Utah Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Cameron Roden, high speeds played a factor in both of the fatal crashes. He emphasized the importance of obeying posted speed limits, as well as advisory speeds, especially at intersections and curves. Utah Department of Transportation Spokesperson Wyatt Wooley acknowledged the need for improvements to make the area safer and stated that the department will be working with the Utah Highway Patrol to determine what changes can be made.
Both the Saturday’s crash and the wrong-way crash in April are still under investigation, as authorities work to determine the causes of these tragic incidents. The posted speed limit in the area is 60 miles per hour, but there is an advisory speed limit of 50 miles per hour for heavier vehicles. UDOT is committed to making the state’s roads as safe as possible and will be conducting thorough studies to implement necessary changes in the area.
In light of these accidents, authorities are urging drivers to be mindful of speed limits and exercise caution, especially at intersections and curves along the highway. The safety of motorists is of utmost importance, and efforts are being made to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.