*Updated at 8:48 p.m. Jan 26, 2023
One is dead after the UTA Frontrunner hit a pedestrian on the tracks between South Jordan and Draper, resulting in delays going both north and south.
The Incident occurred early in the morning on Jan. 26, and was announced by UTA over their twitter feed.
“Alert 6:29 AM: Bus bridge is in effect between Draper and South Jordan due to a Train vs. Trespasser incident,” the tweet reads. “Expect delays of up to 15 minutes both ways between Draper and South Jordan. You will be notified once trains resume their regular schedules.”
In a statement given to ABC4 News, UTA Senior Media Relations Specialist Carl Arky had stated that the pedestrian had been standing on the tracks as the train approached. Current information is leading many to believe that this was an apparent suicide.
“This was, unfortunately, a sensitive, tragic situation,” Arky later told the Review. “The trespasser was on the tracks while it was still dark. He was struck by a FrontRunner train and declared deceased at the site of the incident.”
After the incident, the UTA shut down the tracks between South Jordan and Draper, creating a bus bridge between the two stations for those who were traveling either north or south. According to the update feed on UTA’s twitter, this was in effect from 6:29 a.m. to about 8:55 a.m..
As of 8:55 a.m., the situation has been resolved and the bus bridge is no longer in effect. However, anyone traveling beyond Draper or moving south from South Jordan should expect delays of about 20 to 30 minutes according to UTA.
“It’s a real tragedy for not only the individual who takes this act, but the individual’s family, friends, the UTA train operator, first responders, as well as anyone who may witness an incident like this,” Arky followed up. “UTA encourages anyone who sees someone on its track acting strangely or suspiciously, and trespassing in areas the public is not supposed to enter, please call 801-287-Eyes to report this to our dispatchers.”
“As we always say at UTA, if you see something, say something. You might save a life,” Arky concluded.
The Review will continue to update as this story develops.
If you or anyone you know are suffering from thoughts of suicide, do not hesitate to contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 833-372-3388.
