Rodrigo Zabala Lopez, 15, killed and two adults hospitalized after their car is rear-ended by distracted driver at Bangerter Highway and 2400 South in West Valley City, UT
1 dead after car crash in West Valley City
One person died and two others were taken to a hospital after a traffic crash in West Valley City.
Distracted driver caused fatal crash on Bangerter Highway, police say
The woman driving the Rogue suffered no significant injuries. Buchanan said investigators were still reviewing possible charges Wednesday afternoon.
It was about 3:45 p.m. when 25-year-old Shawna Pitayo was apparently cleaning her glasses while driving northbound on Bangerter Highway, and rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at a red light at 2400 South. Rodrigo Zabala Lopez, 15, was sitting in the back seat of that car and was declared deceased at the scene. A 35-year-old man and 24-year-old woman who were the driver and front-seat passenger sustained serious injuries but are in stable condition in the hospital. Check back for updates on this developing story.
Why every fatality from a crash is not legally a wrongful death
After someone dies in a motor-vehicle accident, grieving family members and friends are often left with many questions. What caused the accident? Could it have been avoided? What do they do now that their loved one is gone?
Sometimes a fatal collision happens through no one's fault. Crashes caused by weather and road conditions, or by wildlife in the roadway, are examples. But when a fatal crash is caused by negligence, then family members should pursue a wrongful death claim, to uphold the victim's rights and begin the financial recovery process. Learn more about wrongful death claims here.
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