August 7, 2021: Image of the vehicle that was driving the wrong way on the I-15 collector near 1700 South. This truck crashed head on into another vehicle, killing the driver. Photo: Utah Department of Public Safety
SALT LAKE CITY — A 26-year-old woman was killed overnight when the car she drove was struck by another vehicle driving the wrong way on the I-15 collector in Salt Lake City.
A representative from the Utah Highway Patrol told KSL that the driver of a Tacoma truck entered the freeway via the 900 South exit ramp at around 1 a.m., driving southbound in the northbound lanes.
The victim was identified as Angelica Jimenez, who traveling home from her wedding.
The UHP said that when that driver got near 1700 South, he hit a Toyota Corolla head-on.
The wrong-way driver, along with his passenger, were helped out of their vehicle (pictured above) by a passerby, said the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Freckleton said that the wrong-way driver then stole the vehicle of the passerby, and his passenger fled on foot.
“Luckily, a Trooper on scene was able to see it, or, hear it happening,” Freckleton said, and called in a description of the stolen car. The wrong-way driver was apprehended on I-80 and Redwood Road where he was investigated for DUI.
Freckleton said the driver is under arrest on suspicion of vehicular homicide, theft of a vehicle, and DUI.
The driver arrested has been identified as Manaure Gonzalez-Rea, 36.
Mark Jackson and Mark Jones contributed.