Redwood Road in Taylorsville turned into a twisted maze of wrecked cars, splintered wood, and emergency lights after police say a pickup truck ran a red light, sheared a utility pole, and set off a chain-reaction crash that injured eight people and sent five of them to the hospital. Two suspects are now behind bars in Salt Lake County Jail while investigators continue to piece together what happened.
Crash on Redwood Road
The collision unfolded around 10:10 p.m. near 4700 South when a southbound Ram pickup allegedly blew through a red light, went off the roadway, and slammed into an Xfinity/Comcast utility pole before hitting other vehicles, according to Gephardt Daily. Patrol Officer White told the outlet that “the debris struck another vehicle... the truck itself ended up colliding with two other motorists, causing one to roll.”
Police said the force of the impact split the pole and scattered parts of the truck across the intersection. Debris hit yet another car and nearly struck a pedestrian who was walking in a marked crosswalk, according to officers. Investigators said the pickup’s occupants initially ran from the scene on foot before officers later tracked down the suspects.
Victims and emergency response
First responders transported five people to nearby hospitals and treated additional injured people at the scene, early reports show. Victims were taken to Intermountain Medical Center and other Murray-area facilities while firefighters and medical crews worked through a heavy debris field and a jumble of damaged vehicles, per Local Accident Reports.
Crews had to cut into at least one vehicle to free two occupants who were trapped inside, authorities said. The intersection was shut down for a time while police investigated, tow trucks cleared the wreckage, and utility crews moved in to stabilize and repair the broken pole.
Arrests and alleged evidence
Investigators later tied two people to the crash and took them into custody, police said. As reported by KUTV, 21-year-old Teiciaz Luseane T. Faka'osiula was booked on five counts of failure to remain and one count of reckless endangerment. Trent Ted Redmustache was arrested on obstruction charges and on an alleged distribution charge connected to a Schedule III controlled substance.
Officers said Faka'osiula showed signs of impairment. According to police, a search of Redmustache’s vehicle turned up a large quantity of individually packaged THC vape pens. He allegedly gave officers false information at the scene and tried to get rid of documents that could identify him.
Legal context
Utah law spells out what drivers are required to do when a crash injures someone, including stopping at the scene, exchanging information, and providing reasonable aid. Those duties are laid out in Utah Code §41-6a-401. Prosecutors can also seek charges for recklessly putting others at risk under the state’s reckless endangerment statute, Utah Code §76-5-112.
Any formal filings related to the alleged failures to remain at the scene, possible impairment, or suspected drug distribution would be handled by Salt Lake County prosecutors as police continue the investigation.
