Parents and crossing guard urge Far West council to act after fatal crash at 2700 North and 2000 West

Residents and school supporters urged the Far West City Council to press state and county agencies for safety improvements at the intersection of 2700 North and 2000 West, saying the crossing near Far West Elementary is dangerous and that additional steps are needed to protect children and school staff.

Emily Shoop, a nearby resident who said she spoke with the school principal and the crossing guard, told the council the intersection is managed by the Utah Department of Transportation but asked the city to use its voice to press for concrete changes. Shoop said she had spoken to several UDOT staff and to county safety officers and urged the council to seek lower speed limits, advanced-warning flashers and greater law-enforcement presence.

"Research shows that even small increases in speed can drastically raise the risk of severe injury or death," Shoop said, later noting UDOT cut the westbound speed on 2700 North to 40 mph as of Feb. 24 but that 2000 West remains posted at 50 mph. "Reduce speeds at this intersection would help greatly with that."

A flight nurse and long-time resident, Bree Stanger, described repeated emergency responses near the same junction and told the council she had personally transported people who were injured at the location. She asked the city to consider traffic measures that would reduce risk for children walking to school.

Family members of a child killed there also spoke. Carrie Jo Kristofferson read a statement from the Hodson family announcing the funeral for 9-year-old Carly Jan Hodson and said the family believes speed was a factor in the crash.

What residents asked the council to pursue

- Advocate with UDOT to reduce posted speeds approaching the intersection and to add advanced-warning flashers ahead of the signal. - Consider additional crossing-guard support and daily rotation of county deputies or Utah Highway Patrol officers at school-crossing times to increase visible enforcement. - Require developers to contribute to pedestrian infrastructure for new subdivisions so children have safe walking and biking routes.

Data and enforcement: county and UDOT response

- Ogden Fire (Deputy Chief Mike Slater) told a resident that since 2020 there have been 12 EMS responses to that intersection that required medical transport; the spokesperson could not, on short notice, specify how many of those were fatalities. - Council members and staff said UDOT is conducting a concept study for the intersection and that now is an appropriate time for public input; the council encouraged residents to stay involved and to write state legislators and UDOT contacts.

Council and staff follow-up

Council members said the city can advocate during UDOT's concept study, help organize public support, and assist with grant applications for long-term infrastructure such as a pedestrian overpass (which staff said could cost several million dollars). The council also encouraged residents to draft language for a city newsletter explaining legal obligations around school crossings; the council said it would help distribute that messaging.

No formal council vote or ordinance resulted from the public comments. Council members said they would collect contact information for the UDOT project manager, work with the school and county law enforcement on enforcement options, and invite residents to participate in a planned walk with the crossing guard to raise awareness.