Kevin Arledge, 43, of Provo, died Sunday, November 18, when he swerved into oncoming traffic on US 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon. His Oldsmobile crashed into a semitrailer, and Arledge was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arledge was involved in his Utah County community, working in the security department at Intermountain Healthcare and taking time to coach kids’ baseball.
Many more accidents happen on rural roads than on urban roads. Highways like US 6 are narrow, and drivers’ inner speed demons are unleashed on the long stretches.
The following statistics are cited by NPR, highlighting just how dangerous Spanish Fork Canyon can be:
U.S. Highway 6 Stats
There were 519 fatal and serious injury crashes between Spanish Fork and Green River in Utah from 1996-2008. Of those:
117 were at night
280 were during the day
84 were in bad weather
260 were in clear weather
9 involved collisions with animals
32 were DUIs
46 involved driver fatigue
145 involved speeding
288 involved driving off the road or into traffic
Clearly, defensive driving and extra caution are paramount if you are driving on this stretch of highway between Spanish Fork and Green River this winter. Watch the weather forecasts, keep to a reasonable speed, don’t drink and drive, and don’t attempt to drive without getting adequate rest.
Christensen & Hymas extend our condolences to the family. Victims of rural car accidents are not without legal recourse; they can call Utah Car Accident Lawyers at Christensen & Hymas for a free initial consultation with an attorney: (801)-506-0800. Remember, they’re treacherous roads out there, and you are two-and-a-half times more likely to experience a fatal accident on a rural road versus an urban one!