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SLCPD Investigating Deadly Wrong-Way Crash

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating a deadly wrong-way crash in the industrial part of the Poplar Grove neighborhood.

This investigation started at 9:36 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, when SLC911 received a call about a crash near 120 South 5600 West.

Officers arrived and found two cars with extensive damage. Officers found one of the cars, a silver Infiniti, on its top. The other car, a red Kia, had major front-end damage.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department rescued the driver from the Kia and paramedics took him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department rescued the passenger of the Infiniti and paramedics took him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The impact of the crash caused the Infiniti to roll and trap the driver.

Due to the critical condition of the Infiniti’s driver, the on scene medical incident commander requested a helicopter land on 5600 West.

The driver died on scene despite emergency life-saving efforts.

The driver of the Infiniti is identified as 19-year-old Wilber Cardenas.

This crash marks the second traffic-related fatality in Salt Lake City for 2024.

The Collision Analysis & Reconstruction (CAR) Team and SLCPD Crime Lab technicians responded to the scene.

The preliminary investigation shows Cardenas drove north in the southbound lanes of travel as the approached the red Kia.

It appears before the crash, Cardenas swerved, which caused the Kia to hit the Infiniti as it slid and as the Kia continued south.

Alcohol may have been a factor in Cardenas’ driving.

The CAR Team is a multi-jurisdictional crash team that investigates crashes involving serious physical injuries or death. Members of the CAR Team receive specialized training in collision examination, speed analysis, vehicle dynamics, occupant kinematics, scene photography, surveying equipment, crash scene mapping, evidence collection and computer aided drawing programs.

The CAR Team includes law enforcement from the Salt Lake City Police Department and several other Salt Lake Valley law enforcement agencies.

A photo from the scene is being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

This is all the available information for release.

Photo: Salt Lake City Police investigate a deadly high-speed crash involving two cars on 5600 West near 120 South (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

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