A Salt Lake County woman whose car was crushed under a loaded dump truck remained hospitalized in critical condition early Wednesday at LDS Hospital.
Witnesses told police that a woman driving a Honda was traveling west on 4100 South and ran a red light at the intersection with 5600 West. A northbound dump truck swerved in the intersection to avoid the car and overturned, landing on the car's left side and partially covering the car with a load of dirt and rocks at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.Rescuers had to cut the roof from the car before they could remove the driver, Andrea V. Leetham, 64, 4531 S. Ranchfield Road, who was flown to the hospital by helicopter. They could not confirm there were no passengers until a tow truck lifted the dump truck off of Leetham's car.
The crash occurred one block north of Hunter High School where students were reporting for the first day of a new school year. Hunter student Matt Hunsaker said he was driving south on 5600 West when he saw the collision and stopped to help. He and fellow student Tony Wozab said they stopped and tried to keep the woman talking until help arrived.
Hunsaker said his car came close to becoming tangled in the accident.
West Valley City police officer Craig Petersen said it appeared that neither vehicle was traveling at an excessive speed but that traffic patterns along 5600 West make it likely an accident will involve a large truck. "We have a lot of heavy vehicles traveling up and down this road. There are a lot of accidents here and at 3500 South."
Petersen said the driver of the truck was not injured.