3 injured in SR-18 collision

DIAMOND VALLEY – A collision on state Route 18 Tuesday afternoon resulted in three people being taken to the hospital.

Just before 5 p.m., a truck northbound on SR-18 in the area of milepost 12 collided with a passenger car that was turning left from Diamond Valley Road, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Nate Abbott said.

Responders work to remove one of the crash victims from the passenger car. Three individuals, including the woman in this car, were sent to the hospital. Officials were unable to comment on the possible extent of their injuries, Washington County, Utah, Jan. 17, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The driver of the passenger car allegedly pulled out in front of the pickup and triggered the collision, Abbott said.

The impact caused the truck to spin around and face south in the northbound lane while the passenger car went off the road before coming to a stop.

The pickup received heavy front-end damage while the passenger car looked as though the front axle may have been broken in the crash.

The speed limit on SR-18 in that area is 65 mph.

The driver of the pickup, as well as the driver and passenger in the car, was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Intermountain Healthcare’s Life Flight helicopter was called to the scene, yet was subsequently dismissed.

Aftermath of a crash at the intersection of SR-18 and Diamond Valley Road, Washington County, Utah, Jan. 17, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Abbott was unable to comment on the general condition of the three patients.

North and southbound traffic was impacted for around 45 minutes as responders tended to the scene.

“It’s one of those unfortunate situations,” Abbott said. “We hope people are careful and observant and cautious as they can be.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Gold Cross Ambulance, and area Fire Department volunteers responded.

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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Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

 

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4 Comments

  • knobe January 18, 2017 at 7:48 am

    I see drivers coming out of the Diamond Valley exit every week ,
    trying to jump across fast moving traffic even though they are at a dead stop .

    Their judgement skills are horrible and people are constantly having to brake to avoid slamming into them .
    This accident was not a matter of ‘if’ it would happen but ‘when’ it would .

    • Brian January 18, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      People that live in DV know the intersection is dangerous. The problem is if you can see a car coming in either direction it isn’t safe to go, and visitors don’t realize it. Even when cars are a long way down the road they close the gap very quickly going 65 (and often 80) MPH.

      If I lived there I would probably make my teenagers leave using the dirt road a half-mile north where it’s a bit safer.

      I’m not sure what the long-term solution is.

      • comments January 18, 2017 at 2:32 pm

        long term solution would be smart traffic planning. Might take some fatalities before that happens tho. typical utah

        • .... January 19, 2017 at 3:40 am

          Well Bob you could always leave.

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