LOCAL NEWS

Surveillance video shows moments just before FrontRunner train fatally hits woman

Aug 8, 2022, 6:05 PM | Updated: Aug 9, 2022, 5:27 am

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority said Monday that basic awareness could have saved the life of a 33-year-old woman who was hit and killed by a FrontRunner train in Salt Lake City.

A new video released Monday showed the critical moments leading up to Michelle Leyba’s death at a railroad crossing.

It showed that Leyba ignored the safety warnings. She was so focused on one train that she never looked in the opposite direction to see if another train was coming.

KSL aired the video to reinforce the danger at railroad crossings.

The deadly incident happened July 28 at the FrontRunner crossing at 617 West and 800 South in front of the Fear Factory.

Around 2 p.m. Leyba and a second person approached the crossing where the rail arms had lowered and lights flashed to warn about a Union Pacific train that was moving through the area.

The pair walked through the safety fence and stopped for a moment at the clearly marked “stop” on the sidewalk.

“It’s the same thing we tell our kids, when you get to a street you look left, you look right before you cross,” said Carl Arky, UTA spokesman. “Same with railroad tracks, you look left and right, got to pay attention to the lights, the signs, the bells, the gate arms that comes down. All those things are there for your protection.”

Leyba then proceeded onto the alignment. Less than four seconds later a FrontRunner train coming from the opposite direction hit her.

Arky said, “It was a (Union Pacific) train that was on the other tracks, and she was looking at when that train was going to pass so she could go across the tracks, did not look to her right and as a result never saw the UTA train coming.”

He said the train operator stopped the train as soon as he could.

“Trains are unforgiving, they can’t stop – not on a dime.”

Arkey added that there is one sure way to know when it’s all clear at a crossing. “You’ve got to wait until the lights stop flashing, till the bells stop ringing. Until that point, there could be another train coming.”

KSL TV also obtained the incident report Monday. The witness who was with Leyba stated she didn’t see the train coming either. The witness called it an accident.

UTA said trains have hit and killed four people this year, one of them was intentional. They’re asking everyone to please pay attention and do not ignore the warning signs.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Local News

Cottonwood High lines up for a free kick following a fair catch against Jordan High. (KSL Sports)...
Andrew Adams

Coach, kicker & official reflect on Cottonwood High’s rare, game-winning play

Cottonwood defeated Jordan High after the Colts attempted and converted a free kick for three points with 12 seconds left following a fair catch on a punt.
6 months ago
...
Karah Brackin

Utah Veterans head to Washington D.C. for ‘trip of a lifetime’

75 veterans left Salt Lake City for Washington D.C. Tuesday morning.
6 months ago
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, introduces himself as a member of a n...
Ashley Imlay, KSL.com & Aimee Cobabe, KSL NewsRadio

Supreme Court declines to hear Utah gun rights activist’s appeal to overturn bump stock ban

A prominent Utah gun rights activist has lost his bid to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the federal bump stock ban.
6 months ago
Yvette Rodier, shooting survivor...
Amy Donaldson, KSL Podcasts

LETTER PODCAST: Victim says bullet wounds were easiest part of recovery

When Yvette Rodier woke up in a hospital, she knew, even before anyone told her, that her friend, Zachary Snarr, was dead.
6 months ago
Housing construction....
Ladd Egan

Unaffordable Utah: Mortgage rates climb again as buyers look for price reductions

Utah's housing market is whiplashing as last year's buying frenzy seems to have slowed down to signs of a recession.
6 months ago
FILE...
Matt Gephardt & Sloan Schrage

Get Gephardt: How cybercriminals use social engineering to get us to hand over our sensitive info

You can have the strongest, most secure password in the history of cybersecurity, but the bad guys know there is one weakness they can use to hack into your system - you!
6 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Hand turning a thermostat knob to increase savings by decreasing energy consumption. Composite imag...
Lighting Design

5 Lighting Tips to Save Energy and Money in Your Home

Advances in lighting technology make it easier to use smart features to cut costs. Read for tips to save energy by using different lighting strategies in your home.
Portrait of smiling practitioner with multi-ethnic senior people...
Summit Vista

How retirement communities help with healthy aging

There are many benefits that retirement communities contribute to healthy aging. Learn more about how it can enhance your life, or the life of your loved ones.
Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to choose what MBA program is right for you: Ask these questions before you apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Cloud storage technology with 3d rendering drawer with files in cloud...
PC Laptops

How backing up your computer can help you relieve stress

Don't wait for something bad to happen before backing up your computer. Learn how to protect your data before disaster strikes.
young woman with stickers on laptop computer...
Les Olson

7 ways print marketing materials can boost your business

Custom print marketing materials are a great way to leave an impression on clients or customers. Read for a few ideas to spread the word about your product or company.
young woman throwing clothes to organize a walk in closet...
Lighting Design

How to organize your walk-in closet | 7 easy tips to streamline your storage today

Read our tips to learn how to organize your walk-in closet for more storage space. These seven easy tips can help you get the most out of your space.
Surveillance video shows moments just before FrontRunner train fatally hits woman