UPDATED: Crash near Toquerville brings I-15 to a standstill

A semitractor-trailer and an RV are in flames, bringing traffic to a standstill on Interstate 15 near Toquerville, Utah,. Aug. 11, 2021 | Photo courtesy of New Harmony Fire, St. George News

TOQUERVILLE — A crash involving a produce semitractor-trailer, a car and a recreational vehicle shut down both sides of Interstate 15 near Toquerville on Wednesday afternoon, disrupting travel along the main thoroughfare between St. George and Cedar City.

A semitractor-trailer and an RV are in flames, bringing traffic to a standstill on Interstate 15 near Toquerville, Utah,. Aug. 11, 2021 | Photo courtesy of New Harmony Fire, St. George News

The crash, which took place around 4:50 p.m., near milepost 31, left the RV in flames and multiple fire agencies racing to put the fire out. While the fire was extinguished by 7:30 p.m., traffic was still limited to one lane on the north I-15 as night fell.

The crash left one person with a minor injury, according to officers. No one else was injured but the RV, semi and the unidentified vehicle were all total losses.

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden said the crash was a chain reaction, starting with the semi.

“The semi rear-ended a car and it also hit a motorhome,” Roden said.  “All of the occupants were able to get out. One in fair condition but they weren’t too badly hurt.”

Roden said he wasn’t sure whether the car was following the RV or was connected to it.

By 6 p.m., one lane of the southbound side of I-15 was reopened. The remaining lanes on both sides of the interstate remained closed and were expected to stay so into the night, Officer Tiffany Atkin, with the St. George Police, said in a statement.

A neighbor near the site of the crash described to St. George News seeing flames and a black tower of smoke sailing into the air. With the interstate at a standstill, truckers were seen getting out of their vehicles and talking on their phones.

A trucker gets out to use his phone as traffic is stopped on Interstate 15 near Toquerville, Utah, after a collision between a produce truck and an RV left the RV in flames. Aug. 11, 2021 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“There were several propane tanks in the RV they were concerned about,” Roden said. “The fire was fairly substantial.”

By 6:15 p.m., some vehicles on the northbound side were starting to be moved through.

As of 8 p.m., the northbound side remained limited to one lane with trucks and cars on the north 15 moving just feet at a time. The southbound side was fully open.

Several fire agencies responded along with the Utah Highway Patrol including firefighters from Hurricane and the Harmony Valley Fire District.

This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Updated 8:25 p.m., Aug. 11: Additional details from Utah Highway Patrol.

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