SLCPD Investigating Double Fatal Crash

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating a traffic-related crash that killed two adults.

This investigation started at 7:22 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022, when SLC911 received information about a crash involving a garbage truck and a passenger van near 980 South Redwood Road.

Officers arrived and located two victims, a driver and passenger, inside the van. Officers and paramedics attempted life-saving efforts, but both individuals died on scene.

The garbage truck is a city-owned vehicle assigned to the Sustainability Department. Paramedics transported the driver of that vehicle to a local hospital with minor injuries. The driver and the Sustainability Department are fully cooperating with the investigation.

“We are devastated that this tragic accident today ended with two lives lost,” said Debbie Lyons, Director of SLC Sustainability. “We send our deepest condolences to the families of those killed in this collision. Our operator is currently at the hospital being evaluated for injuries. We are supporting our Waste & Recycling family today as they return from their routes”.

Based on the preliminary information, the city-owned vehicle was traveling southbound on Redwood Road while the van traveled northbound. At some point, the van turned in front of the city-owned vehicle, resulting in a head-on crash. Specific details regarding how the collision occurred are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Peer Support Team responded to the scene and the hospital to assist the Sustainability Department and its employees following this incident.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Peer Support Team, a branch of the SLCPD’s Wellness Program, consists of sworn law enforcement members, professional staff and the department’s mental health clinician and a chaplain. The team provides emergency on-scene mental health support and provides services, advocacy and resources to officers and employees who have experienced trauma. Because of their level of training and capability to deploy 24-hours a day, the team may assist other law enforcement agencies or city divisions as necessary.

Due to the investigation, officers shut down traffic on Redwood Road from Indiana Avenue to 1050 South for several hours.

The identities of the two people who died are not being released pending next of kin notifications.

This crash marks the fifth and sixth traffic-related fatality in Salt Lake City for 2022.

The Crash Analysis Reconstruction (CAR) Team and SLCPD Crime Lab technicians responded to the scene.

The CAR Team is a multi-jurisdictional crash team that investigates crashes involving serious physical injuries or death. Members of the CAR Team receive specialized training in collision examination, speed analysis, vehicle dynamics, occupant kinematics, scene photography, surveying equipment, crash scene mapping, evidence collection and computer aided drawing programs.

The CAR Team includes law enforcement from the Salt Lake City Police Department and several other Salt Lake Valley law enforcement agencies.

A photo from the scene is being released.

A SLCPD PIO responded to the scene to provide media updates.

No additional details are available for release.

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