Fire cripples SUV on I-15; STGnews Videocast, Photo Gallery

LEEDS – A small portion of a northbound travel lane on Interstate 15 near Leeds had to be blocked off for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon as emergency responders attended to a vehicle fire.

Vehicle fire on Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, May 20, 2015 | Photo by Cami Cox, St. George News
Vehicle fire on Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, May 20, 2015 | Photo by Cami Cox, St. George News

At about 3:50 p.m., a man driving a Hyundai SUV was traveling north on I-15 in his father’s vehicle when, near mile marker 25, he noticed another driver motioning to him and then heard a loud pop.

“The driver noticed another vehicle waving him down, telling him there was sparks under his vehicle,” Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Taj Eldredge said. “The driver looked up, and he heard a loud noise.”

A fire erupted beneath the hood of the vehicle, and flames rose above the engine.

“He noticed that his hood was on fire, under his hood, and the engine was on fire for unknown mechanical reasons,” Eldredge said.

A crew from Leeds Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. The flames were out within about 10 minutes, but it took responders more than an hour to completely clear up the scene.

Vehicle fire on Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, May 20, 2015 | Photo by Cami Cox, St. George News
Vehicle fire on Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, May 20, 2015 | Photo by Cami Cox, St. George News

There was significant damage to the front end of the vehicle, including the engine compartment, and the SUV had to be towed away.

The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. He was able to retrieve belongings from the SUV before the tow truck arrived.

In addition to UHP and Leeds Fire and Rescue, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the incident.

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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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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