Motorcycle Crash Seriously Injures 2

 
A motorcycle crash seriously injured two people and closed a movie theater Saturday.

Duane Welty, 45, Sandy, was riding a motorcycle north on Highland Drive when he apparently tried to beat traffic by riding in between the lanes.  When a car also heading north stopped to make a left-hand turn, the motorcycle slammed into the back of the vehicle, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Deputy Dave Mortensen said.

The motorcycle was knocked to the ground and slid through the door of the Villa Theater, 3097 S. Highland Drive (1500 East).  Nobody at the theater was hurt, but the impact shattered the glass doors.  The theater was closed for the day.

Welty and his passenger, Pam Richmond, 41, Taylorsville, were thrown from the motorcycle. Both sustained broken bones, Mortensen said. Paramedics airlifted Welty to LDS Hospital and Richmond to University Hospital. Both were in serious condition Saturday night. Neither wore a helmet.