Wrong-way driver dies in head-on collision on I-15

ST. GEORGE — A 32-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision Monday morning after traveling the wrong way into oncoming traffic on Interstate 15, approximately 6 miles south of the Utah state line. The driver of a second vehicle involved in the crash was transported to the hospital via Intermountain Life Flight.

A 32-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision after traveling the wrong way into oncoming traffic on Interstate 15 near milepost 22.5, Mohave County, Arizona, July 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam Fire Department, St. George News

At approximately 4:30 a.m. Monday, authorities received a report of a vehicle traveling south in the northbound traffic lanes on I-15 near milepost 24, Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Bottoms said.

Minutes after receiving the first call, authorities were notified of a collision at milepost 22.5 involving a Ford Escape and a Dodge Ram truck.

The three occupants of the Dodge truck were traveling from California back to their home in Missouri, officials said at the scene.

“(They) were about ready to cross Bridge 7 when they noticed the headlights coming toward them,” Bottoms said. “They began braking and tried to slow down, and the (oncoming) vehicle veered right into the lane they were in and collided with them head-on.”

The driver of the Dodge truck, a 56-year-old woman, complained of pain in her neck and chest and was transported by Life Flight to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George to be treated for injuries, Bottoms said. The other two passengers in the Dodge truck were treated and released at the scene.

A 32-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision after traveling the wrong way into oncoming traffic on Interstate 15 near milepost 22.5, Mohave County, Arizona, July 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam Fire Department, St. George News

The wrong-way driver of the Ford Escape with Nevada license plates sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, Bottoms said, noting that the 32-year-old man had not been wearing a seat belt.

The man’s identity has not been released pending notification of family members.

“There were no obvious signs of any drugs or alcohol in the (Ford) vehicle,” Bottoms said, “but we won’t know until we receive a postmortem exam or autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office.”

Bottoms said it is unclear where the Ford Escape may have entered the freeway or turned around and began traveling in the wrong direction, nor what the driver’s motives were for doing so.

Northbound traffic was backed up along I-15 for approximately an hour and a half while emergency responders worked to clear the scene of the crash.

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, 2017, all rights reserved.

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2 Comments

  • Brian July 10, 2017 at 11:21 am

    It seems this was a suicide, “They began braking and tried to slow down, and the (oncoming) vehicle veered right into the lane they were in and collided with them head-on”. What a heartless way to do it.

  • mmsandie July 10, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    How can people get on highway the wrong way,, there are big red signs posted, sounds like suicide but I feel the people going back to California. Are lucky but sad it happened

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