Several are injured in Labor Day accidents

A travel day known for accidents stayed true to that tradition Monday with injuries to motorists and a pedestrian.

A 24-year-old woman was airlifted to University Hospital Monday morning after she was ejected from the vehicle she was riding in and was dragged a few feet.

The woman was the passenger of a car attempting to turn left near 7360 S. Highland Drive. As the car was turning, an oncoming sport utility vehicle hit the car, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Betterton.

She was listed in serious condition at University Hospital, Betterton said. The driver was not injured. The driver of the SUV was not reported injured.

Another accident just hours earlier ruined a woman's early morning walk with her dog.

The woman was walking near 2600 E. 4500 South just after 8 a.m. when a speeding car lost control and struck a parked car. The car hit the woman, and her dog ran off, Betterton said. The woman was reported in fair condition but was not taken to a hospital.

The car, driven by a teenager, was traveling about 55-60 mph when it careened out of control and hit the parked car. The parked car then spun to a stop approximately 100 feet away with its back end smashed in.

"She was just walking her dog on the sidewalk and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Betterton said. "There was no way for her to be aware traffic was coming. That's normal. Then all of a sudden there's a car in her lap."

Betterton said both the driver and his passenger are 17. The passenger was listed in fair condition at St. Mark's Hospital Monday morning. The driver was transported to University Hospital in serious condition.

Police are investigating what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Betterton said police do not believe alcohol was involved.

An afternoon accident required one man to be flown by helicopter to a hospital after he ran a red light and crashed into the stoplight pole, possibly after experiencing a diabetic coma. The injuries were not life-threatening, and no other vehicles were involved.

A motorcycle rider was airlifted to University Hospital about 9:21 p.m. Monday after a collision with an SUV.

Witnesses saw the motorcycle traveling west on 9000 South at a high speed and weaving through traffic, Sandy Police Lt. Craig Watson said.

Near 1700 East, the driver of an SUV turned left from eastbound 9000 South into a driveway. The motorcycle and SUV collided, Watson said.

Watson did not know whether the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet. The accident remained under investigation.

Cache County authorities also reported an accident on U.S. 89 in Logan Canyon. Details were not available at press time, but two people were airlifted to a Salt Lake hospital.

---

Contributing: Josh Loftin, Laura Hancock; E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com