Racing blamed in I-15 crash that injured 2

BOUNTIFUL — A crash that snarled traffic Saturday evening on northbound I-15 was likely caused by two cars racing, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Sgt. Jeff Plank said witnesses told troopers that the drivers of a Mazda RX-7 and a Subaru Impreza were racing when the driver of the Mazda lost control of his car shortly before 5 p.m.

"He ended up sliding sideways, hitting another vehicle," Plank said. "Then he rolled the car. It flipped onto its top and slid about 200 feet on its top."

The driver of the Mazda, 18-year-old Maurice Brown, was flown from the scene to University Hospital with serious head injuries, Plank said. He was listed in good condition Saturday evening. Brown's passenger, 20-year-old Matthew Godfrey, was taken by ambulance to Lakeview Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Both men are attached to Hill Air Force Base, troopers said. A call to the base's public affairs office seeking information about the men was not returned Saturday night.

No one else was injured in the crash, Plank said, adding that the driver of the Subaru had remained at the scene.

The crash briefly closed northbound I-15 while the medical helicopter landed to pick up Brown. Troopers were then able to open one lane of traffic while they completed their investigation and cleaned up the crash.

Plank said charges are pending.