Davis Co, UT (July 01, 2021) – The Utah Highway Patrol has released the names of the two people killed in a multi-vehicle accident in the southbound lanes of Interstate 15 on Tuesday, June 29th in Davis County.
The deceased parties have been identified as 77-year-old Stephen Lewis Cotler, a resident of Healdsburg, California., and 37-year-old Ariana Elise Cotler, a resident of North Salt Lake.
The accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m., near the exit for 200 North in Kaysville when a load of canvas bags fell from a catering company vehicle onto the interstate. Two vehicles attempted to stop for the debris. A Ford F-250 pick-up truck came up too fast on the stopped traffic and crashed into a Toyota Prius from California. The Prius then collided with a Chevy Malibu.
Stephen Lewis Cotler was the driver of the Prius. Ariana Elise Cotler was his passenger. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A second adult male was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
The two occupants of the Chevy were transported by ambulance in serious condition.
The driver of the F-250 pick-up sustained only minor injuries and was arrested for DUI after he registered a blood-alcohol level almost three times the legal limit.
Whether or not the catering company is facing any penalties has not been reported.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victims, Stephen Lewis Cotler and Ariana Elise Cotler at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families in hopes of a full recovery.
The law in Utah asserts that although the injured party died, their estate still has a legal claim against the respondent. The death of the victim does not imply that the negligent driver is somehow exempt from their duty to pay financial compensation to the family or estate of the deceased.
This same statute comes into play if the negligent driver was killed during the accident. Under these circumstances, the claim for damages would instead be brought against the deceased’s estate.
This law is applied in cases where either the injured victim or the at-fault driver, or both, die as a result of the accident. The victim’s claim for financial compensation is valid regardless of which side of the bench the deceased was on.
When victims pass away from injuries sustained in accidents caused by reckless, negligent, or careless drivers, their families may be entitled to compensation. Filing a legal claim with a responsive and effective wrongful death attorney in the Salt Lake City area can help to ensure your legal rights are protected after enduring the loss of a loved one.
The Utah fatal accident attorneys at Jardine Law Offices P.C. have extensive experience helping grieving families get the justice they deserve after losing loved ones in preventable collisions. Our team takes an aggressive and comprehensive approach toward protecting the legal rights of families throughout the Salt Lake City area.
Right from the beginning, we begin to put together strong legal claims that best demonstrate the negligence of the defendant. With adequate evidence, case law, and dedication, we aggressively negotiate settlements for our clients that ensure they are fully and fairly compensated for the economic and non-economic damages they face moving forward.
If your loved one lost their lives in an accident, due to the negligence of another person, contact our personal injury attorneys in Salt Lake City at (801) 350-3506 to see how our team can help you get the justice you deserve for your loved one. Our team is available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s accident.
Notes: The details and information utilized to create this post were gathered through the use of secondary sources. The details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by the writing staff at Jardine Law Offices P.C.. These sources include but are not limited to newspaper stories, local news sources, local and state police reports, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents that take place in Farmington and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you locate any information that is inaccurate, please contact us right away so that we can update the post with the most accurate information available. If you would like the post to be removed, please let us know and we will remove it as soon as possible.
Disclaimers: The attorneys at Jardine Law Offices P.C. have worked hard through the years to build a solid business reputation in the community. We write about these serious incidents to bring awareness about the dangers associated with driving in hopes that our fellow community members will use an abundance of caution when operating a motor vehicle and avoid being involved in a serious accident themselves. This story is not intended to be a solicitation for business. The information provided in this post should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos used in this post are not taken from the scene of this accident.