SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Highway Patrol was trying to determine what caused an SUV to go out of control, become airborne for 200 feet and slam into a hillside, bursting into flames.
The Thursday crash on I-215 northbound at the mouth of Parley's Canyon and I-80 left the lone male driver, Steven T. Parker, 46, dead on impact and investigators puzzled over the cause of the crash.
"Right now, we really don't know what happened," said UHP Lt. Jeff Nigbur.
The 3:10 p.m. accident had several witnesses who told troopers the SUV failed to negotiate a curve, went up and over the guard rail and flew through the air 200 to 250 feet.
Upon impact with the hillside, the vehicle burst into flames.
The crash shut down both I-215 northbound and I-80 westbound for some time.
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