Deer on I-15 triggers three-car traffic incident

TOQUERVILLE — Three vehicles were involved in a traffic incident on Interstate 15 Tuesday around 6:49 p.m. reportedly precipitated by a deer on the highway near Toquerville.

James Choi, of Temecula, Calif., lost control of his gray Mazda 6 near mile post 29 on I-15, trying to avoid a deer in the road, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Matthew Pratt said. The Mazda then pin-balled between the guard rails on either side of the freeway, he said, and came to a stop facing oncoming traffic.

A dark gray Mini Cooper, driven by Aarti Mehpa, was heading southbound on I-15 and slowed to avoid the Mazda, Pratt said. Mehpa told UHP that she came upon the Mazda while it was still spinning and slowed to a stop to avoid hitting it.

As she slowed for the Mazda, Mehpa’s Mini Cooper was rear-ended by an orange Chevy Cruz, driven by Samuel Barlow of Colorado City, Ariz., Pratt said, and he was cited for following too close.

Emergency medical crews responded to the accident, Pratt said, but everyone involved denied medical attention. No injuries were reported.

The Mazda was towed from the scene, Pratt said, but the other two cars were driven off by their respective drivers.

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10 Comments

  • San November 19, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    You kept switching back and forth between ‘interstate’ and ‘highway’…were the deers on the highway road south of Interstate-15 and created a distraction? No.

    References to ‘the highway’, when reporting on activity on I-15, have shown up a couple of times on here during the past month. It’s confusing. We live in a county that is connected, mostly, by back roads and true rural ‘highways’.

    A freeway (according to answers I found all over the internet) is defined by lack of intersections or reasons to stop. A highway has intersections, stops, et al. It also is typically 2-4 lanes, where a freeway is typically 4-8 lanes.

    Please think about it. I’m not being witchy. In this article it was easy to figure out what you meant, but that shouldn’t be encumbant on your readers?

    Am I the only one bothered by this indistinct labeling?

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic November 19, 2013 at 10:49 pm

      We may use the terms interchangeably, San. Usually you will see the proper name on first reference, Interstate 15 is one example that may then be referred to as the highway or I-15 as the report continues.
      Here’s one site that tells the history of the Interstate Highway System – good reading, if you’re interested: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/history.htm
      I’ll be thinking about your thoughts on this though as we write new reports, comments are helpful that way. 🙂
      Thanks,
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

      • DoubleTap November 20, 2013 at 9:45 am

        Maybe you should just say the deer on the pavement…..would that be easier for others to understand?? 😉

    • My Evil Twin November 20, 2013 at 10:08 am

      Bit of a problem with your reading comprehension there? Or are you just so bored that you have to pick on somebody, so figure it might as well be the staff here?

  • ladybugavenger November 20, 2013 at 9:35 am

    oh deer

  • My Evil Twin November 20, 2013 at 10:08 am

    I want to know if the deer was cited by UHP! 😀

  • DoubleTap November 20, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Did he have that “deer in head lights” look?

  • Me November 20, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Hey San…….GET A LIFE!!!!!!

  • DiAnna November 20, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    IMHO – pointing out confusing or unclear terminology with a request for clarification shouldn’t be considered “picking on” anyone. Face it, folks, our language – even when grammatically correct – can be exceptionally confusing…and there are few people interested in even attempting to get it right.

    So, San – thanks for requesting clarification, and thank you, Joyce, for such a gracious response.

  • Melissa November 20, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    Joyce and STGNews get an A+ from me.

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