Ryan Bronson said he's lucky to be alive after an accident with a TRAX train Wednesday, but he's not happy his sport utility vehicle is totaled.
"The TRAX lifted me up and spun me over," Bronson said. "I had to crawl out of the back" to get out.
Bronson was driving his SUV east on 800 South about 6 p.m. At the 200 West intersection, he drove through a red light and hit the front coupler of the train, traveling south on 200 West, UTA spokesman Kris McBride said.
Bronson said he thought the light was green. "I heard the train honk and then it hit me," he said.
The train's impact on the SUV caused it to flip upside-down, Salt Lake police Sgt. Dave Ward said.
Bronson crawled away from the SUV without a scratch. He was ticketed for failure to stop at a red light, Sgt. Dave Ward said.
The TRAX train was delayed about 15 minutes after the accident. After noninjury accidents UTA officials routinely talk to the train operators "just to see how they're doing" psychologically, McBride said.