ST. GEORGE — Following three crashes, one of which involved a vehicle becoming fully engulfed in flames, the Utah Highway Patrol urged drivers to “pay attention.”
At approximately 4:15 p.m, rush hour traffic congested Interstate 15 for vehicles traveling both north and south, and caused a fender bender on the southbound freeway, UHP trooper Zach Todd said. No serious injuries were reported for this collision.
“Rubberneckers” were reportedly slowing down to view the wreck from the northbound freeway, which led to a second crash at approximately 5:15 p.m, Todd said.
The trooper said a female driver in a Kia Sorrento was driving too fast and was at risk of hitting cars in front of her when she swerved off the roadway and went down an embankment near mile marker 12.
While the crash didn’t result in extensive damage, for reasons not yet determined, the Sorento burst into flames. Todd said it was possible that fuel was leaking beneath the vehicle.
The driver was able to escape before the Sorento was fully engulfed, he said.
“We were very fortunate that she wasn’t hurt and was able to get out,” he added.
Todd and a Santa Clara-Ivins police officer were at the scene of the fender bender when they noticed the smoke. They responded to the scene before the initial call went out and confirmed no one remained in the vehicle.
No citations were issued and no other vehicles were involved in the collision, Todd said.
UHP trooper Grant Hintze was called to another crash near mile marker 9.5 at approximately 5:41 p.m.
The crash involved three northbound cars on I-15 in the far right lane: in the front, a female passenger was in a red Nissan Murano; in the middle, a man occupied a white Chevrolet Sonic; and at the back, a woman was driving a silver Chevrolet Outlander, Hintze said.
The Outlander’s driver was reportedly unable to stop when traffic came to a halt and collided with the Sonic’s rear end, pushing it into the Murano and “disabling all the cars in the far right lane,” Hintze said.
The St. George Fire Department and three Gold Cross ambulances arrived shortly before Hintz. All three drivers were transported to St. George Regional Hospital after complaining of neck and shoulder pain, likely caused by seatbelts and airbags, he said.
No serious injuries were reported.
“Good luck out of the bad luck is that everybody was wearing seatbelts in a bad situation and it didn’t make it as bad,” Hintz said.
The Outlander’s driver was ticketed for following too closely.
Todd said drivers should think about what they can do to avoid a crash.
“The big thing is to pay attention to what’s happening in front of you when you’re driving,” he said. “Make sure that you have a safe following distance and you have a plan for traffic stops.”
Washington City Fire Department also responded to the call.
Photo Gallery
The scene of a vehicle fire on I-15, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shelley Evans Palmer, St. George News The scene of a vehicle fire on I-15, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shelley Evans Palmer, St. George News The scene of a vehicle fire on I-15, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News The scene of a three-car collision on I-15 near mile marker 9.5, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News The scene of a three-car collision on I-15 near mile marker 9.5, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News The scene of a three-car collision on I-15 near mile marker 9.5, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News The scene of a three-car collision on I-15 near mile marker 9.5, Washington City, Utah, Oct. 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News
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