Fourth truck crashes through Raspberry Square

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY,  Utah.  February 3, 2020.  Another semi truck has lost its brakes coming down Logan Canyon Road into Garden City and through a 4-way stop and into Raspberry Square. The truck was stopped by the unplowed snow in the square and is about 40 feet away from where two semi trucks previously crashed into the garage buildings you see in the picture. 

The first crash killed the driver and took out Pugstones, a local business which had to be demolished. The second and third took out the garages which have been repaired.

This is the 4th semi truck in 18 months to lose its brakes and go through this intersection.  Locals  feel that we are living on borrowed time until a truck crashes into Raspberry Square.    A school bus was near the intersection and the bus driver saw the snow billowing as the truck blew into the square.

According to a statement from the Utah High Patrol, buildings no longer exist near the “frequently blown through” intersection, and no injuries resulted from Tuesday’s incident.

“Inexperience on the part of the driver is being investigated as the cause,” law enforcement wrote. “He’d never driven down an 8-10% grade before.”

UHP Sgt. Cade Brenchley said the driver told law enforcement he decided to put the truck in neutral and coast the descent into Garden City using only his brakes.

“Which, to be perfectly frank, is ridiculous,” Brenchley said.

Brenchley said the driver’s overheated brakes were partially functioning when he went through the intersection between 25 and 30 mph. The truck stopped an estimated 30 yards away from nearby condos, he said

“He went through the intersection fairly slowly,” Brenchley said. 

In the next few months #UDOT is supposed to begin work on a runaway truck ramp about 1 mile before the location where the 4 truck crashes have occurred. What is needed is more

enforcement at the summit by UHP until the ramp is made and more training for drivers.