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KAYSVILLE — Responding to a report of a wrong-way driver on I-15 last month, Kaysville police officer Kalawai Delos Santos jumped into action.
He drove onto the interstate and rammed the car to stop it, preventing possible loss of life had the errant motorist continued. "Officer Delos Santos's vehicle sustained significant damage and he required extraction by medical personnel before being taken to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries," the Kaysville Police Department said, at the time.
It was actually the second such incident involving Delos Santos, who stopped another wrong-way driver on the interstate on April 15, 2022, and in recognition of his heroics, Kaysville Mayor Tamara Tran and the Kaysville City Council recognized him Thursday.
"He's done this two times — wrong-way drivers on I-15," Tran said. "Incredibly courageous. We're super proud of him and the whole department."
Delos Santos received a key to the city and Kaysville officials proclaimed Feb. 9 — the date last month's incident occurred — as Kalawai Delos Santos Day. Delos Santos has been cleared medically, said Kaysville officer Lexi Benson.
"Delos Santos's courageous efforts have exemplified the highest standards of heroism and public service, inspiring our community," reads the proclamation. Through his "selfless actions, Kalawai Delos Santos has brought honor to himself, his family and our community, demonstrating unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of others."
Kaysville police officer hospitalized after stopping wrong-way driver on I-15
A Kaysville police officer had to be extracted from his vehicle and transported to a hospital after crashing head-on to stop a wrong-way driver on I-15 early Friday.The two incidents Delos Santos helped neutralize are hardly isolated occurrences. Thursday's council action followed the death of a wrong-way driver earlier in the day on I-15 in Salt Lake City, after the motorist, driving north in the southbound lanes of the interstate, crashed into a bus hauling Army Reserve cadets.
All told, there have been seven wrong-way crashes so far this year in Utah that have killed five people, and Thursday's incident prompted Gov. Spencer Cox to weigh in. Officials haven't yet said what may have led to the incident Thursday, but Cox said alcohol and drugs are typically involved in such crashes.
"I don't know what happened this morning, but I can tell you with every single fatality we've had so far, there has been impairment, either drugs, alcohol or both. That's deeply problematic," he said. According to Utah Highway Patrol stats, there were 22 wrong-way crashes in 2023, with six fatalities.
New technology has been implemented by the Utah Department of Transportation on entrance ramps to roads in some locations to warn motorists when they're going the wrong way and to alert authorities. "It's very expensive technology and so we're working with UDOT to get that deployed in as many places as we can as quickly as possible," Cox said.
Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Chamberlin Neff offered a few pointers to the public to prepare for the possibility of wrong-way drivers.
Put cellphones and other distractions away and monitor the area beyond the car in front of you. Moreover, increase the distance between you and the car in front of you and try to maintain a gap beside your auto.
If a wrong-way driver is coming head-on and there are only seconds to react, swerve into that gap to the side. "If you have to side impact a vehicle, you kind of just have to play worst-case scenario," he said.
Contributing: Shara Park
