That reminded me Debbie. This was a BAD weekend in Utah. We had 3 other double fatal crashes. There was also one in Colorado with a family from Utah. Mother and 4 kids, two kids died...3 year old and 8 month old didn't. But the 8 month old has internal injuries. Would be hard to convince me that child was correctly restrained.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3333740
There was one accident in Parley's Canyon that was a police chase turned suicide. They closed the canyon.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3335323
So everyone went through Provo Canyon instead. A woman with two 13 year old kids plus a 7 and 8 year old... was t boned trying to pull out onto the canyon road (60MPH speed limit.) I think this was a case of her not paying enough attention + the additional traffic from the other canyon closure. The two youngest kids were killed.
I drive that canyon at least on a weekly basis. This is the 3rd accident there in a couple of weeks. That is the canyon that we go into to go to the park, the waterfall, the river, the reservoir, the canyon we take to go to Thomas, etc. Both of these canyons are also routes to the in laws cabin. Provo Canyon is NOT a dangerous canyon like Parley's is, if at all possible I take it. It's been months since I took Parley's, though I will have no choice but to come down Parley's this weekend. I'm already freaking out about it.
Provo Canyon is okay....
As long as you are paying attention.
The place where this family was hit has plenty of visibility. There are other roads that pull out right after a turn and are more difficult. This area is not like that. I have been honked at because I waited to pull out because I wasn't positive I had time to go. I got honked at the other day for not pulling out in front of a TRAIN at railroad tracks!
People are just in too much of a hurry. At speech therapy yesterday I saw a license plate that said "Y Hurry".
However, on a positive note. The chevy truck towing a camper that t boned this family....he ALSO had 2 kids in his truck. Even though they rolled, the kids were unhurt. This easily could have been much worse if those kids hadn't been correctly restrained. 2 kids died when it could have easily been 4.
The kids who died likely weren't wear seatbelts. However, it may not have mattered. The seatbelts themselves were gone, from the impact. If they'd been wearing them they likely would have died from the impact instead of being ejected.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3336489
There is still no update on the unrestrained/poorly restrained kids. This doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't follow up...I was surprised they reported it at all. There was also another accident in Southern Utah that was a double fatality.
It wasn't even a holiday weekend...this coming weekend is. I sure wish I didn't have to drive that weekend.
I keep seeing trucks with unrestrained toddlers in the front seat. No carseat, no booster, no seat belt, in front of an airbag. The first one was actually hanging out the window at highway speeds.