NEW HARMONY – An Idaho couple traveling through Southern Utah on an interstate joyride with a group of sports car drivers wrecked their Chevrolet Corvette near New Harmony Thursday afternoon. The driver lost control of the car at a high rate of speed, and the Corvette spun out and smashed into the median guardrail.
The driver of the Corvette was just re-entering southbound Interstate 15 at the on-ramp for Exit 40 when the crash occurred, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jake Hicks said.
The car’s back tires bore no tread, Hicks said, and the man driving entered the on-ramp at such a high rate of speed that he lost control and couldn’t regain it.
“So, he comes up and loses it this way,” Hicks said, turning his body in a counterclockwise circle to demonstrate how the driver lost control when he hit the gravel on the median. “And then his passenger side, right here, collided with the guardrail, and that took the brunt of the force.”
The crumpled guardrail was spiraled around itself beside the trooper as he re-enacted the incident; only the broken stumps of wood that once held the guardrail in place remained in their respective holes in the ground.
When dispatch received reports of the accident at 12:39 p.m., it was reported that the woman in the Corvette’s passenger seat was trapped inside the car and was injured. Both New Harmony Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene to assist.
The precarious spot in the middle of the interstate where UHP troopers typically sit to observe traffic quickly filled up with both first responders and other travelers who pulled over to assist and check on the occupants of the Corvette.
“They were actually traveling with a group of other exotic cars,” Hicks said. “So, there was Corvettes and Mustangs and that was the other people that pulled over.”
The concerned travelers were asked to leave the scene to ensure their safety and the safety of both first responders on the scene and motorists passing by, Hicks said.
Hicks said he was unsure why the group was getting on the interstate at Exit 40, but it was possible they stopped to visit Kolob Canyons while traveling through the area.
Fire Department responders had to remove the passenger door of the Corvette, and the trapped woman was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George to be treated for moderate injuries, Hicks said.
The driver rode along with his wife, Hicks said, but he refused treatment at the scene, stating his injuries were minor.
Both the driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident, Hicks said.
Considering that the Corvette was a T-top Corvette, he said, their seat belts were the only thing that kept them from being ejected.
There were no citations given at the scene, but considering the Corvette’s speed and the condition of the tires, Hicks said, there may be citations issued after investigation into the accident concludes.
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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One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
One woman is sent to the hospital following a single-car spinout on Interstate 15 near New Harmony, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News
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You’d think if one drives a corvette that they would drive it with tread on the tires. Im sure there’s a good reason. Can’t say that I wouldn’t put the pedal to the metal if I had a corvette, challenger, Chevy camaro (yellow with black rally stripes)..note to self: make sure there’s tread on tires. Dexter should come along soon and say “in my dreams” :). Haha YES!
Is that a paid opinion you just posted.? or was that free advice.?
This opinion was compliments of ladybugavenger. The advice of make sure tread is on the tires was compliments of the corvette owner we can all learn a lesson on tire tread and how tires should have them. Duh.
Only in your dreams. DUH.!
Duh! Hey, what’s that picture by my name? Where did it come from? If there is going to be a picture it should be a ladybug. ( When I see this awkward G I thought of green bay packers and I can’t stand the packers. How do I change it?
Never mind editor its gone. You can delete this post and the last one. Please and thank you. EIC how do I get a picture of a ladybug next to my name?
Try this, LadyBug:
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2012/05/24/adding-your-gravatar-image-to-your-stgnews-comments/#.Vgf0jhNVhBc
Hi EIC Joyce, this awkward GG ( that resembles green bay packers a littletooo much ( position and color are different but still, barf. What does it mean?
I’m not sure what you’re seeing, LB – email me a screenshot, please: [email protected]
Why buy camaro challenger or corvette? Small man complex?
Poor (wo)man syndrome…But I would definitely buy the Chevy camaro. And id be like, All this horsepower and no room to gallup. 🙂
Yeah it’s either that. or get a really big truck LOL.!
Cluck, cluck.
Yawwwwwwwwwwn
Lucky Darwin was a little off that day
I always make sure I have good tires before a long drive .
I guess that is not important to some other people tho . . . obviously .
Wonder if that will change now ?
I always make sure I have good tires before a long drive .
I guess that is not important to some other people tho . . . obviously .
Wonder if that will change now ?
Altho in retrospect , High Speed on the on ramp was probably the Biggest factor .
Hey everybody I see REAL NO LIFE the troll has crawled out from underneath his rock to share his.. worthless point of view…. Hey troll don’t start crying when the troll gets trolled
Cluck, cluck.
Cluck. Cluck.
FUN BAG FOR PRESIDENT.!!!!