A 49-year-old man who was in extremely critical condition following a three-car accident in Salt Lake City on Wednesday remained in the hospital Thursday but was expected to recover.

"The word we got today was that he was improving and is in much better condition than yesterday," Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy Levi Hughes said Thursday.

Police said that a little after 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, a vehicle traveling on 3900 South near 900 West lost control on a slick road and started to slide. The vehicle behind that car tried to stop but was unable to do so and hit the first car. The impact spun the first car around and tossed it into oncoming traffic, where it was hit a second time by a third vehicle.

The man in the first vehicle was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition. The driver of the second car was also transported to a hospital, where she was listed in good condition. The driver of the third vehicle and his two adult passengers were not injured.

— Ethan Thomas