Series of deadly crashes after dust storm hits Utah
At least 8 people have been killed and several others critically injured in a series of car crashes on Interstate-15 near Kanosh, Millard County, Utah on Sunday, July 25, 2021.
According to the Utah Department of Public Service (DPS), 22 vehicles were involved in the crashes after high winds caused a sand or dust storm and impaired visibility on the roadway around 16:30 LT.
The crash happened on Interstate 15 near milepost 152, between the Meadow and Kanosh exits. Southbound traffic in the area was shut down until early Monday morning.
"Some minor crashes in the midst of the storm blocked the roadway," DPS said in a statement. "In the process of coming to a stop, a semi appears to have rear-ended a pickup.
"The most significant crashes happened behind the semi with two vehicles becoming wedged underneath the back of the trailer. They appear to have been hit from behind by another pickup. Another vehicle appears to have sideswiped the semitrailer, as well."
"We have vehicles all over. Several vehicles tried to swerve off the roadway. We have vehicles that are flipped up on their sides," Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Rhoden said. "One of the vehicles that was pulling a trailer, the trailer has pretty much completely been destroyed and is on the freeway."
DPS said Monday ten people were transported to area hospitals, at least 3 in critical condition. All others who were transported had non life-threatening injuries.
Five of the eight people killed in the crash were traveling in one vehicle. Two others who were killed were traveling together in another vehicle. One fatality was from a third vehicle.
Four of the fatal victims were adults and four were children under the age of 15.
Video from I-15 this afternoon, near where a 20+ vehicle pileup happened in Millard County, shows how hard it was to see during the dust storm that passed through the area.
UHP believes this is what ultimately caused the crash with at least 6 dead. https://t.co/G6cy1lHhUR pic.twitter.com/npSAzH4Y2n
— FOX 13 News Utah (@fox13) July 26, 2021
Featured image: Utah Highway Patrol
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Two years ago I was in the USA and mainly in California and realized that on high speed roads, drivers in general do not respect the minimum safe distance between vehicles, especially trucks, and that in excellent driving conditions. When the traffic is very convoluted, attention must be doubled, you can’t be distracted by anything. In high winds, dust, heavy rain and snow, drivers should automatically increase the distance between vehicles and greatly reduce speed using flashing lights and other possible signals. I live in Brazil and here many people die in traffic for other reasons, but piles like this, fortunately, are much rarer.