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SALT LAKE City — The start off of Utah’s “100 Deadliest Days” did not go as the Utah Freeway Patrol experienced hoped, even with several strategies heading into the vacation weekend reminding motorists to be safe.

“It was not a wonderful weekend as far as crashes and fatalities and dashing,” explained UHP Sgt. Cameron Roden.

Around the Memorial Day weekend, 6 individuals were being killed in crashes on Utah’s streets, with four of those fatalities happening on the freeways. Very last year, one particular person was killed on the freeway all through the exact same time period.

On top of that, the variety of full crashes and the range of motorists stopped for extreme rushing were up from a 12 months in the past, in accordance to UHP data.

Extra than 2,500 drivers ended up pulled above for dashing by Utah Highway Patrol troopers from Friday as a result of Monday, as opposed to just over 2,000 past year, according to data. A complete of 130 people today ended up stopped for heading at least 100 mph, compared to 66 in 2021. Of people motorists, 21 were cited for investigation of reckless driving or likely 105 mph or more quickly, some thing troopers have been in a position to do considering the fact that a alter in Utah law that started on Might 4.

In addition, troopers responded to 205 crashes in comparison to 179 last calendar year, cited 53 folks for DUI in comparison to 41 a calendar year back, and stopped 5 completely wrong-way motorists.

“It is irritating,” Roden said. “We try to do as a great deal messaging as we can. Then, ultimately, we have a weekend like that. It really is unhappy when you see this much devastation.”

Previous year through the 100 Deadliest Times — bookended with Memorial Day and Labor Day — 103 individuals had been killed on Utah’s roads, the next-optimum range in the earlier nine years in the condition.

Roden said the UHP will go on with its basic safety messaging and strategies aimed at maintaining motorists secure, but in the end, it truly is up to the public to make modifications in their driving behaviors.

Troopers also performed a industrial auto enforcement procedure over the weekend in the St. George spot. Of the 49 significant rigs that have been stopped and inspected, a few motorists and one semi have been put “out of assistance” for violations, in accordance to the UHP. One professional car was pulled over for likely 103 mph in a 70 mph-zone.

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