At 7:02 am on Jan 13th, 2025 the West Jordan Police Department sent out the following notification:
“7800 S. from Redwood Rd. to 1300 W. are closed this morning due to a fatal accident. Police are on scene investigating, and it is unclear when the road will reopen. This is significantly impacting the morning commute. Please avoid the area and plan an alternate route.” (https://x.com/WJPD_PIO/status/1878804771425149276)
Redwood road runs directly through Eagle Mountains sister city of Saratoga Springs. KSL news reported, “At approximately 7 a.m., 7800 South was closed from Redwood Road to 1300 West, according to Det. Alondra Zavala with West Jordan police. Zavala said the person killed was a pedestrian. No further information was immediately provided.” This is not just an isolated incident. According to a recent study, Utah is ranked 4th for Fatal Pedestrian accidents, even at intersections.
- New York came first in the study with 48.44% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections between 2018 and 2022.
- New Jersey ranked second with 41.64% of pedestrian fatalities, while Minnesota came third with 37.89%.
- West Virginia came last in the study with 5.47% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections.
A new study has found that New York has the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections over a five-year period, followed by New Jersey and Minnesota. Utah ranks fourth out of all states in the study.
Personal Injury Lawyers DeMayo Law Office analyzed data on fatal crashes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the years 2018 to 2022. The percentage of pedestrians killed at intersections each year was calculated, while the total percentage of deaths between 2018 and 2022 was used to rank the states from highest to lowest.
New York came first in the study with 48.44% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. Out of 1,367 total pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022, 608 pedestrians were at an intersection at the time. 2018 experienced the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections with 51.87%, over half of all fatalities.
New Jersey ranked second with 41.64% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. 381 pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022 were at an intersection, out of 915 pedestrians killed in total. 2018 saw the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections with 46.82%.
Minnesota came third with 37.89% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. Out of 227 total pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022, 86 pedestrians were at an intersection at the time. 2022 experienced the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections with 41.86%.
Utah ranked fourth with 37.44% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. 73 pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022 were at an intersection, out of 195 pedestrians killed in total. 2022 witnessed the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections with 46.67%.
Nevada came fifth with 34.29% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. Out of 385 total pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022, 132 pedestrians were at an intersection at the time. 2021 experienced the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections with 38.75%.
Other states in the top ten include Massachusetts, Colorado, Nebraska, Alaska, and Connecticut.
West Virginia came last in the study with 5.47% of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at intersections. Out of 128 total pedestrians killed in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022, only seven pedestrians were recorded as being at an intersection at the time.
Michael DeMayo, CEO of DeMayo Law Office, commented on the findings:
“It is concerning to see such a high percentage of pedestrian fatalities that could have been easily prevented in these states. Intersections tend to be where many accidents take place due to requiring greater awareness as vehicles come from multiple directions.
“Pedestrians should avoid crossing or lingering at intersections whenever possible unless there is a dedicated pedestrian crossing area nearby. We hope that upcoming data releases will show an overall decrease in pedestrian-vehicle fatalities like this.”
| Rank | State | Pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at an intersection between 2018-22 | Total pedestrians killed in fatal crashes between 2018-22 | Percentage of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes at an intersection |
| 1. | New York | 608 | 1,367 | 44.48% |
| 2. | New Jersey | 381 | 915 | 41.64% |
| 3. | Minnesota | 86 | 227 | 37.89% |
| 4. | Utah | 73 | 195 | 37.44% |
| 5. | Nevada | 132 | 385 | 34.29% |
| 6. | Massachusetts | 128 | 374 | 34.22% |
| 7. | Colorado | 152 | 449 | 33.85% |
| 8. | Nebraska | 33 | 100 | 33.00% |
| 9. | Alaska | 20 | 63 | 31.75% |
| 10. | Connecticut | 92 | 295 | 31.19% |
| 11. | Hawaii | 47 | 152 | 30.92% |
| 12. | Pennsylvania | 260 | 842 | 30.88% |
| 13. | Maryland | 194 | 646 | 30.03% |
| 14. | Idaho | 24 | 80 | 30.00% |
| 15. | Vermont | 9 | 31 | 29.03% |
| 16. | California | 1,544 | 5,339 | 28.92% |
| 17. | New Hampshire | 17 | 59 | 28.81% |
| 18. | Wisconsin | 81 | 285 | 28.42% |
| 19. | Virginia | 184 | 648 | 28.40% |
| 20. | Illinois | 258 | 914 | 28.23% |
| 21. | Washington | 154 | 575 | 26.78% |
| 22. | Arizona | 324 | 1,213 | 26.71% |
| 23. | Ohio | 194 | 738 | 26.29% |
| 24. | Rhode Island | 12 | 46 | 26.09% |
| 25. | Florida | 960 | 3,707 | 25.90% |
| 26. | Michigan | 206 | 799 | 25.78% |
| 27. | Oregon | 113 | 439 | 25.74% |
| 28. | Kentucky | 94 | 405 | 23.21% |
| 29. | Montana | 19 | 84 | 22.62% |
| 30. | New Mexico | 98 | 440 | 22.27% |
| 31. | Iowa | 26 | 118 | 22.03% |
| 32. | Maine | 15 | 71 | 21.13% |
| 33. | Kansas | 33 | 165 | 20.00% |
| 34. | Georgia | 266 | 1,429 | 18.61% |
| 35. | Delaware | 25 | 140 | 17.86% |
| 36. | Indiana | 88 | 505 | 17.43% |
| 37. | Missouri | 100 | 577 | 17.33% |
| 38. | North Dakota | 6 | 35 | 17.14% |
| 39. | Alabama | 90 | 568 | 15.85% |
| 40. | Texas | 544 | 3,567 | 15.25% |
| 41. | North Carolina | 177 | 1,186 | 14.92% |
| 42. | Louisiana | 115 | 791 | 14.54% |
| 43. | South Dakota | 8 | 56 | 14.29% |
| 44. | Tennessee | 120 | 843 | 14.23% |
| 45. | South Carolina | 106 | 878 | 12.07% |
| 46. | Arkansas | 40 | 363 | 11.02% |
| 47. | Oklahoma | 47 | 433 | 10.85% |
| 48. | Wyoming | 3 | 41 | 7.32% |
| 49. | Mississippi | 29 | 433 | 6.70% |
| 50. | West Virginia | 7 | 128 | 5.47% |
Photo by Kace Lott on Unsplash
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.