SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — A wrong-way driver was killed in a tragic crash on I-15 Sunday afternoon. The incident, which occurred around 12:30 p.m., involved a 72-year-old man who was later identified as David Rick Garrard of Salt Lake City.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), Garrard initially entered the westbound lanes of I-80 from the wrong direction. He continued driving against traffic and eventually merged onto northbound I-15, heading south.
As he continued driving in the wrong direction, Garrard sideswiped a Hyundai at approximately 700 South on I-15 before crashing head-on into an Audi. Garrard was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Audi, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. The driver of the Hyundai suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital in a private vehicle.
Authorities closed northbound I-15 for several hours to investigate the scene and clear the wreckage. The Utah Highway Patrol is continuing to look into the cause of the incident.
The crash has prompted renewed concerns about wrong-way driving and its potential dangers, especially on high-speed highways like I-15. Officials are urging drivers to remain vigilant and report any dangerous driving they encounter.