ST. GEORGE — An attempt to exit Interstate 15 set in motion a three-vehicle crash that sent a car slamming into a wall of dirt early Saturday afternoon.
Officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the three-vehicle crash on southbound I-15 near Exit 8 involving a blue Hyundai passenger car, a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and a white Kia SUV at approximately 12:38 p.m.
As the Hyundai was heading south in the inside lane, the driver began to veer to the right toward the St. George Boulevard exit, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said.
Meanwhile, the Kia was traveling in the center lane, and the pickup was just ahead in the outside lane.
While merging to the right, the Hyundai clipped the front of the Kia, Mower said, which spun the Hyundai, causing it to hit the left rear bumper of the pickup truck.
The impact with the truck spun the Hyundai in the opposite direction, sending the car careening off the interstate before striking a high dirt embankment where it came to rest.
“Once she hit the truck, she spun the other way, went off of the road and slid up the hill until she ended up where she ended up,” Mower said of the Hyundai driver.
“So, we’re lucky there were no injuries here,” he said. All vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The Hyundai sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene. The other vehicles were still operable and able to be driven away.
The driver in the Hyundai was later cited for improper lane change.
This report is based on statements from police and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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A Hyundai passenger car rests in the dirt after careening off Interstate 15 during a three-vehicle crash near Exit 8, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News A Hyundai passenger car rests in the dirt after careening off Interstate 15 during a three-vehicle crash near Exit 8, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Utah Highway Patrol responds to three-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near Exit 8 Saturday afternoon, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Skid marks on roadway show path Hyundai took after clipping pickup truck during three-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near Exit 8 Saturday afternoon, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Skid marks on roadway show path Hyundai took after clipping pickup truck during three-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near Exit 8 Saturday afternoon, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News The St. George Fire Department responds to three-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near Exit 8 Saturday afternoon, St. George, Utah, June 9, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
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How many close calls have to happen before people pay attention and law enforement does just that, get out on the roadways and highways and Enforce laws!…these stupid careless drivers need to be stopped and the State law makers need to outlaw cell use while driving…but nope, let the carnage begin until your loved ones are dead…then maybe, just maybe, you’ll get the heck off your phones, slow down and pay attention to driving
young women, aggressive drivers need to take their hostility, anger, frustrations out on their husbands, boyfriends, significant partner. They tailgate, pass on the right etc. ladies deal with it off the roads
It’s getting dangerous around here with so many accidents everyday …pay attention drivers,, lucky no injuries… but that wont happen next time.. insurance companies and auto body shops are getting richer
I’ve seen a greater police presence lately and hope that continues. Maybe some tickets will get peoples’ attention or maybe it will just bring in a greater number of Vegas-style lawyers to try and get them out of their tickets. It’s a real problem and people need to pull their heads out. Posted speeds mean little. When roads like Red Hills Parkway are posted at 50, people are driving 60 and more. Speeds were raised not that long ago on I-15 through the city, too, and don’t help when people are jockeying for position to get to exits.
Google “awakened driving” also “deconstructive driving” – these articles tell the tale. Half the battle is distracted driving which occurs 3 in 10 drivers at least – likely 4 of 10. It is unenforceable and has reached epidemic proportions in this town. Contact the local legislators as I have done. Nobody is listening, but representative Chris Stewart did get back to me. I, at least give him credit. Our local legislators who represent us in Salt Lake City don’t care about driving safety, nor do people’s lives apparently matter. For some reason they think lowering the BAC
for DUI solves all. My guess is they have religious tunnel vision and are afraid of losing voters if they do the right thing. 20-30 years ago when the population was less, cellphones were uncommon, and the demographics were more local, this type of driving behavior likely worked. It is pure ignorance to think that there isn’t a problem.