WASHINGTON CITY – Authorities are investigating an incident involving a critically injured man found on Interstate 15 just south of the Washington Parkway interchange Tuesday morning.
Around 10:50 a.m., the Utah Highway Patrol received reports of a man who had either fallen or jumped out of a vehicle onto the southbound freeway around milepost 13. The man, described as being in his late-20s or 30s, was in “very critical condition” when emergency responders arrived, UHP Sgt. Jake Hicks said.
The vehicle involved in the incident was not found at the scene. Before responders arrived, the man was tended to by others who stopped to give aid, Hicks said.
“The traffic stopped and protected him and good citizens stepped in and actually rendered aid and called us,” Hicks said. “A lot of good folks stopped to help out.”
While people stopped to give a hand, witnesses to the event proved sparse, Hicks said. The best information the UHP has to go on as of noon Tuesday, is that a light-blue minivan driven by a Hispanic man may have been involved in the incident. As for how the man ended up on the road, that isn’t known at this time.
“Whether he jumped, or was pushed, or fell – we don’t know,” Hicks said.
The man was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George and is listed in critical condition. His identity was not known to UHP at the time of publication.
The investigation into the incident is fresh and potential witnesses are being followed up with by UHP troopers, Hicks said.
The UHP encourages others who may have witnessed the incident to contact them via dispatch at 435-586-9555.
The southbound onramp from the Washington Parkway Interchange was shutdown for about an hour as responders dealt with the incident. Southbound traffic, while not stalled, was slightly delayed as traffic moved around a segment of the roadway blocked off by the UHP.
Other responding agencies included the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Gold Cross Ambulance and Washington City Fire Department.
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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Shouldn’t that be “very critical condition”?