Driver blacks out after bronchitis attack, crashes on I-15

The scene of an accident where a man ran into barriers on I-15 following a coughing attack that made him black out, Leeds, Utah, May 21, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick, St. George News

LEEDS — A man crashed into two freeway barriers on Interstate 15 near Leeds Thursday following a coughing attack that caused him to black out.

A silver Chevy Equinox, driven by a 56-year-old man, was the only vehicle involved in a collision near mile marker 20 on southbound I-15 just before 2 p.m..

The scene of an accident where a man ran into barriers on I-15 following a coughing attack that made him black out, Leeds, Utah, May 21, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick, St. George News
The scene of an accident where a man ran into barriers on I-15 following a coughing attack that made him black out, Leeds, Utah, May 21, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick, St. George News

The man said he blacked out following a coughing attack, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Lewis said, at which point he sideswiped the concrete barrier on the right side of the freeway, then crossed both southbound lanes into the median and hit the cable barrier twice before coming to a stop.

Besides damage to the car, there were skid marks on the concrete barrier, and Lewis said several of the cable barrier posts were knocked down, but it was planned they would be put back up the same day.

The man told police he was driving the speed limit at the time he blacked out, Lewis said. The man was not given a citation in connection with the crash.

The man reported no injuries, Lewis said. However, he told police he might have bronchitis, which caused the coughing attack.

The Equinox had to be towed from the scene due to extensive damage to the front of the vehicle.

Traffic at the scene did not have to be rerouted or stopped, but the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Utah Department of Transportation did respond to assist.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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2 Comments

  • Simone May 21, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    So basically another Utah idiot was driving down the freeway on his cell phone, I mean, had a” coughing attack” and crashed. Same story different lie.

  • ladybugavenger May 21, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    “Medical episode”

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