Crash kills cyclist, a mom and her 12-day-old infant

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 19, 2007 by Geoffrey Fattah Deseret Morning News

BOX ELDER -- A West Valley City father was the only one to survive an accident Friday evening that claimed his wife and 12-day- old infant and also took the life of a cyclist.

The chain-reaction accident occurred just after 6 p.m. up Sardine Canyon on the border of Box Elder and Cache counties where U.S. 89 and state Route 91 merge, troopers said.

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Blaine Robbins said a vehicle carrying the couple and infant was heading north when a bicyclist traveling along the side of the road turned out into the path of the car. Robbins said the driver was unable to stop in time and struck the cyclist, causing the father to lose control of his vehicle, which veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a truck.

Troopers say the cyclist, 37-year-old Robert Bennett of Brigham City, was pronounced dead at the scene. The car's driver, 37-year- old Michael Middleton of West Valley City, suffered serious injuries.

His wife, 38-year-old Trudy Middleton, was killed, and their 12- day old infant, Norrison Deschner, who was in a car seat, was flown by helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center in extremely critical condition. The baby later was pronounced dead.

The couple was in the process of changing their family name from Deschner to Middleton, according to the Highway Patrol.

Robbins said both husband and wife were wearing their seat belts.

E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com