Marilyn Savas is suing a driver and West Jordan city, claiming a faulty traffic light caused a crash that resulted in the death of her husband, who was riding a motorcycle.
Attorneys representing Savas and the heirs of her husband, William Savas, have filed a lawsuit in 3rd District Court alleging Zachary Kendall did not yield to her husband at a West Jordan intersection.
The lawsuit also names the Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake County and the City of West Jordan for failing to maintain or operate the traffic lights in a safe manner.
On Aug. 12, 2010, William Savas was driving his three-wheel motorcycle north on Jordan Landing Boulevard (3880 West), while Kendall was driving east in a 2007 Toyota Scion on Center Park Drive (7220 South), according to the lawsuit.
At the intersection of the two roads, William Savas had a flashing yellow light while Kendall had a red flashing light, the lawsuit states. When William Savas entered the intersection, Kendall's sedan collided with him.
Savas was thrown from his bike and suffered grave injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, according to the lawsuit. He died as a result of his injuries after four months of extensive medical treatment, the lawsuit claims.
William Savas suffered "extreme emotional distress" in apprehension of his death after the accident, according to the suit. Marilyn Savas claims she incurred the bills for her husband's medical, funeral and burial expenses. She seeks damages in excess of $300,000.
Charles Conrad, an attorney representing Savas, questions why the traffic lights were flashing red and yellow, when at other intersections the lights flash red in all four directions.
"How did it get that way? How did this happen?" Conrad asked.
West Jordan police cited Kendall for failure to yield, Conrad said, but he did not know what ultimately came of the citation.
But Lee Kendall said he does not believe his son ever was cited, and that his son won an insurance settlement in the case. Court records show no related citations or charges.
UDOT and the city declined to comment. The county did not immediately respond to a call for comment.
