Man killed, 3 others are injured in I-15 crashes

BOUNTIFUL — Michael Carver's neighbors were planning a neighborhood party Saturday, a party that has now been put off a week.

Carver, 57, was killed Saturday in a four-vehicle accident on I-15. He was traveling north on I-15 about 11:30 a.m. just north of the Salt Lake County line when the Honda Element sport utility vehicle he was driving was hit by a flatbed tow truck.

The tow truck had been traveling south on the freeway but crossed over a movable barrier and slammed into a northbound Toyota Camry and the SUV. Police say the driver of the tow truck "was not paying attention." A Chevy Colorado pickup truck also was hit during the accident.

The Camry ended up underneath the tow truck, and the Camry's lone occupant, a 22-year-old male, was taken to the hospital by ambulance in critical condition. Department of Public Safety spokesman Brian Hyer said the man's condition was improving Saturday evening, and he was expected to be released from the hospital Sunday.

The two people in the pickup truck were OK, but Carver was pronounced dead at the scene, Hyer said.

Motorists on northbound I-15 were limited to one lane for about three hours before all lanes were reopened.

In Carver's neighborhood, there was solemnity and a reverence for the man who lived alone and seemed to be loved by all.

Neighbors remembered Carver as a genuine man with a ready smile. Notes on a poster hanging on Carver's door included sentiments such as "Always in our hearts," "What a wonderful person," "Wonderful example" and "We will miss you more than you know."

About 20 minutes after the first accident, a motorcycle failed to slow down in traffic created by the accident and crashed into a car, Hyer said.

The two people on the motorcycle were flown to the hospital, one in serious and one in critical condition. Both individuals were wearing helmets, Hyer said.

All southbound lanes were closed around Main Street in North Salt Lake for about three hours.E-MAIL: sisraelsen@desnews.com, jdougherty@desnews.com