NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates. Last update: 6:50 p.m.
ARIZONA STRIP – A rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near Arizona milepost 20.5, early Sunday afternoon backed up traffic for 15 miles and resulted in four additional collisions.
The rollover occurred around noon, approximately 2 miles north of Cedar Pocket, Arizona Highway Sgt. John T. Bottoms said.
The driver, 82-year-old James Hicks, of Riverton, and his 70-year-old passenger, Gloria Cardillo, of Littlefield, Arizona, were in a pickup truck pulling a travel trailer.
“The travel trailer began to sway and became separated from the truck, which caused the driver to lose control and both the truck and trailer rolled over,” Bottoms said. “The driver and passenger were both trapped and received assistance from passing motorists.”
While the driver was transported via ambulance, the passenger was transported via Mercy Air to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George where both were treated for their injuries and released, Bottoms said.
“As a result of this collision, traffic backed up at its worst 15 miles and four additional collisions occurred in the traffic back up,” Bottoms said.
Just before 1 p.m. Bottoms said a tow truck was on scene and trying to clear the roadway, and suggested motorists use Old Highway 91 as an alternate route.
At approximately 1:58 p.m., Bottoms said one lane of traffic was open. However, the tow truck company was having difficulty getting the vehicle loaded. The vehicle was falling apart and spilling its contents, he said.
“We were in the traffic from the accident that was in the Gorge today,” motorist Kellie Jourdain said in an email. “The truck that was pulling it was loaded on a tow truck and the windshield was pretty bad. Not sure what happened exactly but we were in traffic for a good hour.”
Another motorist, Zan Tree Stephens, said it took an hour and 45 minutes to get through the area.
Alternate route
Highway 91 as an alternate route bypasses the Gorge entirely, intersecting with I-15 at Littlefield, Arizona, to the south, and connecting to the City of Santa Clara to the north, and into St. George via Sunset Boulevard. See map inset.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Kellie Jourdain, St. George News
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Jason, St. George News
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Jason, St. George News
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Zan Tree Stephens, St. George News
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Zan Tree Stephens, St. George News
Rollover on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 20.5, backs up traffic for 10 miles, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Nov. 30, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Zan Tree Stephens, St. George News
Resources
- To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit theADOT Traveler Information Center online. Travelers outside of Arizona needing to check road conditions may call 1-888-411-ROAD, or while in Arizona dial 511.
- More information about the I-15 Virgin River Gorge bridge projects is available on the ADOT website.
Related posts
- ADOT: Virgin River Gorge bridge improvement schedule
- Road advisory: Old Highway 91 recommended as alternative to possible holiday weekend delays in gorge
- ADOT begins largest bridge reconstruction project in Virgin River Gorge, Bridge No. 6 on I-15
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
Is “texted” a word? I’m seriously asking this question, because I have been criticized for using it myself; I’d really like to know!
Yes, MM, it is the past tense of the verb to text. 🙂
ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
Joyce Kuzmanic
Editor in Chief
I use the word texted quite often
I’m wondering if the trailer first began to sway and then became separated from the truck, (as the article indicates,) which might well be because of a mechanical defect or failure of the trailer. OR, if the trailer became separated from the truck and then began to sway, which would indicate a failure on the part of the driver to properly hook the trailer up in the first place. It happens.
Well I’m not surprised considering some people around here get lost in roundabouts
I want more roundabouts
Go drive Semis then get back to us.
My husband and I were behind the driver of the truck/trailer and assisted in turning the truck over and helping the driver and passenger. It appeared the driver was travelling too fast and the trailer began slowly swaying and then started fishtailing out of control. As the trailer fishtailed out of control the trailer started to jackknife and as it started to rollover and the trailer separated from the truck. Very scary to witness and I hope the both have a speedy recovery.
Thank you.
Gramps needs to give up driving.
Was the 82 year old driving his age or the speed limit?
He could of been reading a text he got from AARP
1st of all, everybody goes too fast in the Gorge. I set my cruise control at 63 and get passed by everything (including semi trucks).
2nd, when pulling a trailer that is swaying or fishtailing you do not slow down!!! this just causes the trailer to swerve more. Increase speed slightly to bring the trailer under control or use trailer brake. Once the trailer is under control then you slow down and pull over to check the trailer to make sure everything is sound mechanically.
If you don’t know how to respond in an emergency situation you shouldn’t drive it!!!
What if they’re already going 90? speed up to 100 or what?
I know these people. I hope they are doing okay. I also know that Gloria had a cat. Does anyone know about her cat? For some of you on here, you should be ashamed of yourselves. SMH.
The cat was in the trailer and was retrieved unharmed.
Thanks for the kitty update (:
Are the people injured? OK?
Nevermind my comment about the people, I didn’t read the article completely