LEHI — Residents of a neighborhood in west Lehi blamed a blind corner at a busy intersection for a traffic accident Monday that claimed the life of a father and son.
Merrill Gomm, 80, and Craig Gomm, 58, died at the scene. Three other people were injured.
The accident happened about 4:40 p.m. According to a preliminary police investigation, Merrill Gomm was driving north on 1700 West in a white Toyota Corolla, attempting to cross Main Street. His vehicle was struck by a semitrailer truck carrying an oversized load of sod and traveling east on Main.
Residents said it is difficult to see oncoming traffic at the intersection because of a large, bushy tree on the corner and a brick wall about 50 feet away. Those obstacles decrease the distance at which oncoming vehicles can be seen.
"This is a blind corner right there," resident Sandy Rogers said. 'You cannot get out far enough to know if you've got enough room to go across here."
Rogers said her daughter was involved in a minor accident under similar circumstances at the same intersection, and drivers who are familiar with the area have been avoiding the intersection.
"Almost all day long, the traffic is extremely continuous," she said. "There's hardly any room in between the cars, especially so in the morning and evening hours when the commute is happening. . . . There's just no way across."
When Merrill Gomm pulled into the intersection, the semi struck his vehicle on the rear passenger side. The force of the impact sent the Toyota spinning across the road and into a fence on the other side. The semi rolled over and collided with a yellow Volkswagen Beetle that was traveling in the opposite direction on Main Street.
The wife and mother of the victims, Beverly Gomm, 77, was in the front seat of the Toyota. She was flown by medical helicopter to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center with what police said were "serious" injuries.
The driver of the Volkswagen, 21-year-old Elizabeth Devlin, was alone in her car. She was extricated and also flown to the hospital with serious injuries, though police said they were not believed to be life-threatening. The truck driver, 31-year-old Alfredo Lopez, was taken by ambulance to American Fork Hospital with serious injuries.
Officers at the scene said they did not believe Lopez was at fault.
"There is no indication right now that his speeds were excessive," said Lehi Police Sgt. Darren Paul. "It was more a question of stopping distance."
Main Street remained closed until just before 9 p.m. Monday. Residents of west Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain, which use the road as a major corridor, were detoured onto side roads during the closure.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com