1 killed, 4 injured, in early morning Avenues crash

SALT LAKE CITY — One man was killed and four others injured, three critically, in an early morning crash Tuesday involving two vehicles. Police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.

About 1:40 a.m., two cars collided at the intersection of E Street (500 East) and South Temple. Michael Peterson, 25, the driver of one of the vehicles, was killed when his car, traveling south on E Street, pulled onto South Temple and was hit, said Salt Lake Police Lt. Gary Layton.

Police were investigating Tuesday whether the second vehicle was speeding on South Temple and ran the stoplight, said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan. The driver of the second vehicle may have been under the influence of alcohol, he said.

Peterson was actually driving the car of a friend, who was in the passenger's seat, McGowan said. His friend remained in critical condition Tuesday with chest and sternum injuries, a broken pelvis and other internal injuries, he said.

All of the people in the second vehicle were males in their 20s. Two of them were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, one with a broken leg, McGowan said. They were later upgraded to stable condition. The driver of the second vehicle suffered the least severe injuries.

— Pat Reavy