Identity of woman revealed in fatal Sandy 9-car crash

SANDY, Utah (KUTV) — Sandy police revealed the identity of a woman after she lost her life in a 9-car crash Friday.

Police said 35-year-old Marylee Benavidez was behind the wheel in a white Toyota 4Runner traveling northbound on State Street.

According to reports, the collision involved several other vehicles, and Benavidez was allegedly driving at high speeds.

A German Shepherd in Benavidez's car was also killed as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Police said Benavidez died at the scene. A GoFundMe page has been made for her here.

Sam Beck, 25, was identified as the driver of the gray Ford F150 traveling westbound on 10600 South.

Seven additional vehicles crashed after the two SUVs collided, and multiple were injured.

Two people were transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to a statement from the Sandy Police Department. Others sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

"We've seen a real uptick in speed around the state," Sandy Police Lt. Dean Carriger said. "[It] really aggravates the severity of collisions, as we can see here."

The investigation was still underway to see if drugs, alcohol, or other factors played a role in the collision.

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A Sandy resident who lives nearby said the roads have become more dangerous in the recent years.

"I'm glad I wasn't driving this morning," said Dave Fenske, who was riding his longboard when he came upon the scene of the crash. "I got the day off."

He said he's never seen an incident as devastating as this one in Sandy, and he speaks from experience.

Fenske was involved in an auto-pedestrian crash just a few months ago when a driver hit him while he was longboarding.

"Just slow down," he said. "It seems like COVID made everyone drive worse."

"It's just everywhere," he added. "I don't know why."

This weekend marks the beginning of the 100 Deadliest Days on Utah roads. The number of road fatalities typically jump between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

Before the 100 Deadliest Days even began, there were already 116 deaths on Utah roads, according to UDOT.

"This is definitely a horrible way to start a Memorial Day weekend," Carriger said.