This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A flat tire may have led to a head-on collision on State Road 201 that killed two people and left a woman in serious condition Friday morning, according to Utah Highway Patrol.
An eastbound vehicle with a flat tire slammed into a westbound Ford Fiesta, killing both occupants, said UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson.
The driver of the Fiesta, Jared Hamby, 30, of Salt Lake City, was wearing a seat belt. Passenger Nannette Baird, 32, of Murray, was not wearing a seat belt.
Johnson said the driver of the car with the flat tire, a 34-year-old woman from Salt Lake City, was taken by medical helicopter from the scene in extremely critical condition but has since been upgraded to serious.
The accident occurred at 10 a.m. near 11175 West and SR 201. The crash closed down portions of eastbound and westbound SR 201 near Interstate 80 until 3 p.m.
Witnesses told investigators the woman driving a Mitsubishi Galant had a flat tire and had hit the wall on the left side of the road three times. Then, the driver crossed into the westbound lanes of oncoming traffic on SR 201.
The driver of a truck saw the car driving toward him and swerved out of its way, but both vehicles made some contact, causing minor damage. The driver of the truck had no injuries. The car swerved again after hitting the truck and continued to head in the wrong direction. Hanby, driving the Fiesta behind the truck, slammed on the brakes, skidding to the right shoulder, but was unable to avoid the oncoming car.
The accident is still under investigation, and no citations have been issued at this time.
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