DRIVER - The Salt Lake Tribune

Sports briefs: N.J. State Police investigating NASCAR driver Jason Leffler’s death at dirt track

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:01:17 MDT

Sports briefs: N.J. State Police investigating NASCAR driver Jason Leffler’s death at dirt track

Updated Jun 14, 2013 05:01PM MDT

Auto Racing • New Jersey State Police on Thursday were trying to determine what caused the dirt track crash that killed NASCAR driver Jason Leffler on Wednesday night. Leffler died after the crash during the first heat at southern New Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway, a dirt track about 15 miles southwest of Philadelphia. A spectator, Chris Taitt, said he was at the race but looking the other way when the crash occurred. He says Leffler had been in second place, apart from other cars when his car s...

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Sandy dry cleaners stay open — despite SUV crashing through front doors

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:04:55 MDT

Sandy dry cleaners stay open — despite SUV crashing through front doors

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 13, 2013 11:04PM MDT

Sandy police are investigating what caused the driver of an SUV to crash through the front of a dry cleaning business Thursday morning. Sandy police Sgt. John Arnold said the 54-year-old driver escaped injury when his Toyota 4Runner jumped a curb and plowed through the glass door front of Trailside Dry Cleaning, 10669 S. State Street, about 7:35 a.m. “He said he was pulling into a parking spot to pick up some shirts he had left earlier. For whatever reason, though, his 4Runner just kept going, ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah researcher: Car voice commands more distracting than mobile phones

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:14:26 MDT

Utah researcher: Car voice commands more distracting than mobile phones

By Isobel Markham | The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 12, 2013 12:14PM MDT

Landover, Md. • Big engines and cushy seats are not enough for today’s automobile buyers. They want cars fused with computers. Machines that respond to their voice. Access to the Web while changing lanes. Automakers are responding, but these latest “infotainment” features may be more fun than safe. In fact, a new study by University of Utah psychology professor David Strayer indicates they can be downright dangerous — that talking to your car while driving may be more distracting than chatting ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Toddler killed in stroller hit-and-run; police seek driver

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:38:48 MDT

Toddler killed in stroller hit-and-run; police seek driver

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 11, 2013 11:38PM MDT

West Valley City police Tuesday were trying to locate a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a child in a stroller. Police Sgt. Jason Hauer confirmed that Gavyn Barnett, 2, had died about 1 a.m. Tuesday, a few hours after being flown by helicopter to Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Barnett’s mother was pushing his stroller across the street, but outside of any crosswalks, near 4005 S. 5600 West about 9:45 p.m. Monday. She had just left a nearby Smith’s grocery store when a...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kragthorpe: Johnny Miller’s 63 in ’73 U.S. Open resonates

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:34:42 MDT

Kragthorpe: Johnny Miller’s 63 in ’73 U.S. Open resonates

By Kurt Kragthorpe Tribune Columnist

Updated Jun 11, 2013 10:34AM MDT

With the 40th anniversary of his epic round approaching, Johnny Miller expressed surprise about how the subject keeps resurfacing. But he knows why his 63 in ’73 remains so prominent in golf history, and the way his NBC Sports colleagues discuss it every June during the U.S. Open telecast is only part of the reason. Factoring in all of the circumstances, Miller’s winning performance at Oakmont Country Club may be the greatest round ever played — and that’s not just according to Miller, a former...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Toddler critically injured when car hits stroller in West Valley City

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:27:46 MDT

Toddler critically injured when car hits stroller in West Valley City

By erin alberty The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 10, 2013 11:27PM MDT

A 2-year -old boy suffered life-threatening injuries when his stroller was struck by a driver in a hit-and-run collision Monday night. The boy’s mother was pushing his stroller across the street near 4005 S. 5600 West about 9:45 p.m., apparently after leaving a nearby Smith’s grocery store, said West Valley City police Lt. Matt Elson. A northbound car struck the stroller, ejecting the toddler, Elson said. The toddler landed on the road; the driver did not stop. The toddler, who lives nearby, s...

Afraid of change

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Afraid of change

Updated Jun 7, 2013 01:01AM MDT

It is dusk. A call from my daughter. I am running. Kind strangers with sad eyes. It’s not too bad, they say. She’s on the ground, crying. I collapse next to her. I don’t feel the rain. I’m in a bad dream. She had been doing everything right, walking her bike through a crosswalk, waiting for cars to stop. The other driver just didn’t see her. An ambulance, a fire truck. Lights spinning, refracting. I don’t cry until later. A long night in the emergency room. Exhausted today, but grateful. We ...

One critical after I-80 rollover east of Wendover

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:47:32 MDT

One critical after I-80 rollover east of Wendover

By Bob Mims and Kimball Bennion The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 7, 2013 12:47PM MDT

At least one person was critically injured when a car rolled on Interstate 80 just east of Wendover. Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said the 11:50 a.m. Thursday crash involved one vehicle. As it rolled about 13 miles east of Wendover, one person was ejected. The silver Honda Civic was traveling eastbound when it went off the left side of the road for an unknown reason. The driver over-corrected to the right, sending the vehicle off the right side of the road. The car rolled several times ...