Erratic driver crashes, injured on I-15; impaired driving possible factor

WASHINGTON CITY — A man was taken to the hospital Saturday morning after a single-car accident on Interstate 15, just north of the Washington Parkway Exit in Washington City.

A single-car accident on I-15 sent a local man to the hospital with moderate injuries, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
A man is taken to the hospital following a single-car accident on I-15, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

Just before 9:30 a.m., the Utah Highway Patrol received reports of a possibly impaired motorist driving erratically in a Nissan Altima on I-15, and an attempt to locate broadcast was issued for the vehicle.

UHP Trooper Grant Hintze said he was watching for the vehicle at about milepost 10 when reports came in regarding a crash at milepost 14.

When Hintze responded to the crash site, he discovered the crashed car was the same vehicle that had been listed in the earlier attempt to locate broadcast.

A single-car accident on I-15 sent a local man to the hospital with moderate injuries, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
A man is sent to the hospital following a single-car accident on I-15, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

The southbound vehicle apparently spun, and both sides of the car hit the cable barrier that separates the lanes, Hintze said. The car then careened across the southbound lanes, going off the right shoulder.

“The driver appears to not have been wearing his seat belt, ending up in the passenger seat,” Hintze said.

Airbags deployed in the Nissan during the crash.

“Witnesses and motorists stopped to assist,” Hintze said. “A search and rescue gentleman from California and then a nurse, probably from out of state — they assisted to keep the patient stabilized until medical and fire arrived on scene.”

A single-car accident on I-15 sent a local man to the hospital with moderate injuries, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
A man is sent to the hospital after a single-car accident on I-15, Washington, Utah, August 1, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

The driver was unconscious when medical teams arrived, Hintze said, but he regained consciousness several minutes later.

The driver was transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Hintze said an investigation is being conducted to determine whether impaired driving played a role in the crash, but no citations have been issued as this report is published, pending medical tests.

Traffic was slow on southbound I-15 for about 45 minutes while investigation and cleanup of the accident took place.

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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3 Comments

  • imsmilin August 1, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    This vehicle and a beige van raced recklessly passed our vehicle on SR-9 minutes before the crash. We commented at the time that it appeared to be road rage or two cars playing a very dangerous game. It was no surprise to see the car crashed on the side of the road on I-15, but more interesting the beige van had pulled over at the accident scene. BOTH vehicles were involved in this incident and I can only wonder if the person in the beige van took any responsibility for his role in this accident.

  • fun bag August 1, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    probly just some young kids havin’ a good time

  • REAL LIFES MOMMY August 2, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Well with kids like REAL LIFE DORK you can always expect things like that he just doesn’t listen to his parents anymore

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