A man was critically injured and subsequently flown to a burn unit after a high-speed crash resulted in his vehicle catching fire and crashing into a Taylorsville McDonald's restaurant. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 30 near the intersection of 5400 South and 4015 West, as per reports from local authorities.
As reported by ABC4, the driver, heading eastbound on 5400 South, initially struck a concrete barrier before crossing the median and colliding with a large power pole. The man's vehicle then continued to hit a Take 5 business sign and eventually came to an immediate halt after crashing into the fast-food establishment. According to KUTV, Sgt. Ryan Carver of the Taylorsville Police stated that the car "came to an immediate stop, ejecting the driver."
Despite the early hours of the incident, the impact of the crash was severe enough to set the vehicle ablaze and seriously burn the ejected driver. He was airlifted to the University of Utah Burn Center where he received treatment for life-threatening injuries. His identity has been withheld at this time as the investigation continues.
Speed is suspected to have been a factor contributing to the intensity of the crash, said Sgt. Carver. Carver, as per KSL. The victim was believed to have not been wearing a seat belt, which likely contributed to his being ejected from the vehicle. Damage estimates to McDonald's and other affected businesses have not been released as of the latest updates.
