Show County cou nty Files Few F Formal Charges 2 in 29 Fatal Accidents o Only nI y Six Complaints Issued and But One C. C Conviction p Obtained ned in Court t Ma Many y Cases Dismissed Formal charges were filed in only six of the 27 fatal traffic accidents which happened in 1934 on bri Salt Lake county highways high outside incorporated limits of cities and towns it was shown Sat- Sat nr av v In bv v a a survey completed in the sheriffs sheriff's office Traffic fi officers submitted s reports in each c case se where a adeath death occurred to the county attorneys attorney's office for final decision as to whether a complaint complaint com corn plaint should be issued Inv Involuntary manslaughter was charged against drivers in each complaint issued Four of oe the six complaints were ere dismissed at preliminary pre pre- hearings Conviction was obtained in one and the driver sentenced sentenced sentenced sen sen- to a year in the county jail and nd one complaint was andis and ands and's is s still sUIl pending in justice court In two cases the original Involuntary Involuntary Involuntary tary manslaughter charges when dismissed were supplanted by reckless reckless reckless reck reck- less driving charges against the drivers Conviction in one of these cases resulted in a day 90 suspended sentence and su suspension pension of driving privileges for four fou months Theother The Theother Theother other case was dismissed without trial lack of evidence being assigned as the reason for tor the action I Bill DUI Supported Analysis of the fatal tatal accidents showed that nearly third one-third of them involved automobiles striking pedestrians as they walked along highways s with their backs toward approaching vehicles It is in an effort to reduce such accidents that Sheriff S. S Grant Young and his traffic squad are arc supporting a bill in the present leg le- Ie making malting it a misdemeanor to walk on a highway with ones one's back toward vehicular traffic traveling traveling trav tray eling cling In in the same direction Other Fatal Crashes Further examination of the record shows that other fatal accidents in 1931 1934 resulted as follows Two from automobiles meeting on hills two from collision of and bicycles four as a result of excessive excessive excessive sive speed overturning cars on curves two Involved collisions of cars with highway obstructions five lve deaths were wele caused by two cars colliding col col- in intersections two by automobiles automobiles automobiles auto auto- mobiles t traveling aveling on pa wrong sides of the highway an and two fatalities oc occurred occurred occurred oc- oc when automobiles and trains collided at grade crossings Another recommendation based on last years year's record Is that every fatal traffic accident should be followed fol- fol towed owed by an official court investigation investigation investigation gation such as a coroners coroner's inquest The latter suggestion was made by J. J Wallace Vallace Vest West head of the county traffic squad under Sheri Sheriff Young I |