Troopers say the Audi entered northbound lanes near 600 South and hit a Nissan Rogue at 1900 South before dawn.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two teenagers died early Saturday after a wrong-way driver in a gray Audi collided head-on with their black Nissan Rogue on Interstate 15 near 1900 South, authorities said. The Audi’s driver, a 21-year-old man, survived with non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Investigators with the Utah Highway Patrol and Salt Lake City police said the crash occurred as holiday traffic thinned in the pre-dawn hours but speeds remained high on the urban stretch of I-15. Officials said the Audi was traveling south in the northbound lanes shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and the impact ignited the Nissan. The wreck closed multiple lanes for hours as firefighters knocked down flames and troopers mapped the scene. The deaths have renewed scrutiny of wrong-way entries on downtown ramps and prompted a new safety review while prosecutors evaluate possible charges stemming from alleged impairment and a reported learner-permit violation.
Authorities identified the victims as 18-year-old Leo Shepherd and 17-year-old Anneka Wilson, whom relatives said were heading to Idaho for Thanksgiving plans. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but both died at the scene. The Audi driver was identified by police as Jose Angel Torres Jimenez, 21. He was taken to a hospital and later booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. “This is one of the most devastating scenes our troopers have worked this year,” Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Luis Silva said, describing widespread debris, burn damage and a barrier strike in the northbound lanes.
Troopers said the wrong-way path appears to have started near the 600 South area, with the collision reported around 1900 South at roughly 2 a.m. Detectives collected roadway evidence, including gouge marks and electronic data modules from both vehicles, and are reviewing nearby traffic cameras and any available dashcam footage. Officials obtained a court-authorized blood draw from the suspected driver, and toxicology testing is underway. Investigators did not release a speed estimate or a precise distance traveled but said the wrong-way segment was short and ended in a head-on impact that left the Nissan heavily damaged and burned.
Family members shared photos and brief remembrances of Shepherd and Wilson as a close-knit young couple active in school and outdoor activities. Friends described them as hardworking and generous with their time. The pair had planned to spend the weekend with relatives, according to statements from family. By late morning, flowers and notes began to appear along a nearby fence as traffic resumed on I-15. A driver who encountered the aftermath said flames were visible “above the signs” and smoke drifted across the lanes until firefighters arrived with foam.
State transportation records show wrong-way freeway crashes account for a small share of Utah’s collisions but a disproportionate number of fatalities due to closing speeds and direct, front-end impacts. In recent years, the state added lower-mounted red “Wrong Way” signs, reflective striping on ramp arrows and pilot radar-triggered alerts at select interchanges. The central Salt Lake City corridor includes closely spaced ramps at 600 South, 900 South and 1300 South, a design that can complicate quick corrections in the dark. Officials said an engineering review after Saturday’s crash will examine lighting, sign placement and whether to expand detection systems near 1900 South.
Police said Jimenez was arrested on suspicion of two counts of automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, along with DUI-related offenses and wrong-way driving. Investigators also noted a violation of a learner’s permit. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office will review the case and determine formal charges after receiving toxicology results and the full reconstruction report. If charges are filed, an initial court appearance could be scheduled this week, followed by a hearing to set bail and release conditions. Troopers said they will release an updated summary when lab testing is complete.
Crews closed the northbound lanes from roughly 1300 South to 2100 South for several hours to document the scene with laser scanners and drones and to clear two wrecked vehicles. The Nissan Rogue was towed with extensive front-end intrusion and burn damage; the Audi showed severe front-end and suspension damage consistent with a high-speed head-on collision, investigators said. Tow operators replaced scorched barrier panels and swept melted plastic from the right lanes before reopening the roadway late Saturday morning. No additional injuries were reported.
As the corridor reopened, the crash site still carried reminders of the night—blackened asphalt, a scraped barrier and scattered glass reflecting sunlight. Neighbors in the Ballpark area said they heard a heavy thud and then sirens that persisted as engines and ambulances cycled through the ramps. A commuter heading north for an early shift said several cars flashed lights moments before the wreck. “You could tell something was wrong because traffic suddenly slowed,” the commuter said, “and then there was smoke.”
The investigation remains active, with the next update expected after prosecutors review reports and initial lab results. Authorities said funeral plans for Shepherd and Wilson were still being arranged Sunday. A candlelight vigil was being discussed by classmates, with details to be announced. Officials plan to brief the public again once toxicology findings return and reconstruction analysis is finalized this week.
Author note: Last updated December 1, 2025.