Coach killed in crash on Bangerter | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A Salt Lake County man was killed early Saturday when his car was rear-ended by an alleged drunken driver.

South Jordan police said Michael Gallegos, 39, an assistant football coach at Cottonwood High School, was waiting at a red light in the northbound lane at 9800 South and Bangerter Highway just after 3 a.m. when a car traveling at a high rate of speed hit the back of his car.

Witnesses at the scene said Gallegos' car caught fire within seconds and was fully engulfed when crews arrived.

Lt. Matt Evans said the victim was killed by the crash impact, not in the fire.

The driver of the second car, Blake Molder, 23, suffered minor injuries. He was treated and booked into Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of driving under the influence and automobile homicide.

Roxana Orellana