RIVERTON, Utah - A Lehi woman is dead after a crash in Riverton Saturday. Police say 20-year-old Taylor Zimmerman was killed after her car was T-boned at the intersection of Bangerter Highway and Redwood Road.
“According to witnesses, the driver of the Pontiac Grand Prix had the green light to go eastbound on Bangerter Highway and the driver of the Hyundai Sonata had a red light and passed through that red light,” said Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal.
It was around 4 p.m. Saturday when witnesses said Taylor Zimmerman in a Hyundai heading north on Redwood Road missed the red light, colliding with this eastbound sedan on Bangerter.
“The two vehicles collided in the intersection and ultimately the driver of the Hyundai Sonata was ultimately pinned inside the vehicle,” said Hoyal.
Zimmerman was pronounced dead at the hospital, her 10-month-old not injured. The 28-year-old driver in the other car, also a mother, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
When Fox 13 posted the story on its Facebook page, several viewers commented on the construction being done in the area and how dangerous the intersection has become.
“It’s definitely an intersection that’s very confusing, you can’t really see where you’re supposed to stop,” said Riverton resident Jennifer Eames.
When the light is red, cars heading north on Redwood Road are expected to stop at a painted line before they cross Bangerter Highway. Eames say the confusion comes because the actual light is on the other side of the street.
“It seems farther away, so you feel like you should continue driving to go up closer to the light,” said Eames.
Unified Police said the collision was the second in the intersection that day.
Lacey Jorgenson was also in an accident here back in September. She was unable to talk to Fox 13 in person because she is bedridden from injuries sustained in the crash. She said the officer investigating her accident didn't cite anyone, saying the intersection was too confusing.
Fox 13 contacted UDOT about the project. Their spokesman said they haven`t received any complaints and they do not keep track of accident numbers.
Residents tell Fox 13 this sign and this guard were added after yesterday's deadly accident.
“I think it’s sad that it took somebody to die to put somebody there, or to create safety for this intersection,” said Eames.
