Multiple-vehicle collisions, smoking semi jam I-15 traffic in St. George

Written by Chris Reed
June 28, 2024

ST. GEORGE — Traffic was backed up about a half-mile on southbound Interstate 15 on Friday morning after two separate vehicle collisions occurred, following a smoking semitractor leaking fluids that had to pull over.

A driver awaits making a statement to troopers after multiple collisions on southbound Interstate 15 between the Dixie Drive and Brigham Road exits, St. George, Utah, June 28, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

The focal point of the incidents, which occurred around 7:40 a.m., was between the Dixie Drive and Brigham Road exits of I-15.  

There were no major injuries. Two right lanes were closed off, slowing I-15 behind it to a crawl beyond the Dixie Drive Exit. The second lane from the right was reopened 30 minutes later, followed by the far right lane about 15 minutes at 8:35 a.m.

Utah Highway Patrol and the St. George Fire Department were the main response with the St. George Police Department providing additional help.  

UHP trooper Zach Todd said everything started when smoke began rising from the front of a semitractor-trailer. 

“So he was coming south and had some kind of mechanical problem where he was leaking a bunch of fluid, possibly diesel fluid or diesel fuel,” Todd said. “And then he started to catch on fire, realized he was on fire, pulled over to the right, got out with his fire extinguisher and was able to quickly put that out. Thank goodness.”

Todd said just as UHP and fire units arrived, two rear-end crashes occurred. 

A BMW sits on a flatbed tow truck after A driver awaits making a statement to troopers after multiple collisions on southbound Interstate 15, St. George, Utah, June 28, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Todd said there was an initial “fender-bender” crash, where both cars were able to exit the freeway under their own power.

Right after, a gray BMW sedan hit the back of a black Jeep, which was then pushed into a utility truck in front of it.

Damage to the Jeep and truck were minimal, but the front of the BMW was totaled and had to be towed out on a flatbed.

“You don’t realize that vehicles are stopping in front of you, and you can cause a rear-end crash,” Todd said.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGNews

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