UPDATE Oct. 13, 2012: Lt. Steve Winward of Utah’s Department of Public Safety advised that both accident victims transported for medical treatment in Las Vegas are going to be OK.
UPDATED Oct. 12, 2012 6:12 p.m. The story is now revised to reflect a 6 p.m. written report provided by Lt. Steve Winward of the Utah Department of Public Safety.
ST. GEORGE – Two separate but related accidents this afternoon stalled traffic on Interstate 15 in the Black Ridge area, mile marker 36, resulting in critical injuries.
Accident One:
The first accident involved a blue Cadillac heading southbound in the left lane on I-15 near mile marker 36. The Cadillac went to pass a motor home and hydroplaned. It initially struck the motorhome doing very minor damage. The Cadillac continued to spin around and struck the guardrail on the median side. A blue Jeep Cherokee attempted to stop but was unable and struck the Cadillac at the driver’s door.
There were two transported in serious condition, and one patient refusal. All parties were wearing their seatbelts. The female driver of the Cadillac was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas via Mercy Air, also in critical condition.
Accident Two:
The second accident occurred at about 2:03 p.m. as traffic was slowing for the crash described as Accident One above. Utah Highway Patrol reports that there was a heavy rainfall in the area at the time. Near Exit 36 southbound, mile marker 37, a semi-truck pulling a box trailer stopped in lane one due to the traffic buildup from Accident One ahead of it. An Acura, following behind the semi, braked and swerved left to avoid the semi but struck a trailer tire with its right rear bumper, then com ing to stop on the left rear side of the semi. A Pontiac G6 then came upon the semi and the Acura and braked, the Pontiac G6 went into a counter-clockwise spin and struck the left rear of the semi with its passenger side. The Pontiac G6 then spun around and came to rest with its bumper into the cable barrier facing the rear left tires of the semi.
The female passenger of the Pontiac G6 was critically injured from the impact of the crash and is the sister of the 16-year-old driver of the Pontiac. The injured passenger was flown by Life Flight to University Medical Center hospital in Las Vegas in critical condition. The driver of that vehicle, the Pontiac, was transported by ambulance to Valley View Hospital in Cedar City with minor injury.
Winward said that there were no other injuries in these accidents. At 6:10 p.m. he said some of the injuries were critical, as described above, but that no resultant fatalities had been reported at that time.
Winward’s report also stated that drugs and alcohol are not suspected by any of the involved parties. Seatbelts were used by all parties and all air bags were deployed in the Pontiac G6.
Washington City resident Marshall Connelly was on scene at Washington City Fire Station 61 on Buena Vista in Washington City where a Mercy medical helicopter out of Mesquite, Nev., had flown in to take transport of one of the accident victims, brought to that location by a Leeds Ambulance.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2012, all rights reserved.
I am curious if there are approximate times that the accidents took place?
Shaea, we just updated the story with quite a lot of detail provided by Ut DPS, including time of the second accident. You’ll want to review the full revised report.
the driver of the poniac was her brother and he is now fine with only minor injuries and his sister made it to las vegas UMC safely and is being treated very well now although she sustained major injuries she is doing very well.
Thank you Jeffrey for that update!
Is there any new updates on how the sister is doing?
Go here for updates on the sister.
Thank you Kelly. Dear readers, Kelly is sharing a link to a facebook page tracking Annie’s progress. Here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Monique-Lippitt-Annie-Get-Well-Page/373679772711185
Constant prayers since the day of the accident for the Lippitt & Krause families. Wishing a speedy recovery for both beautiful girls Annie & Kilee. Though they are @ the best facility for trauma care, Annie & Kilee’s recoveries are in the hands of the BEST PHYSICIAN. If He got them to it, he will get them through it only much more stronger & alive. It is wonderful that you as a family are spending every waking moment by her side. There was a wise doctor that once said, “the best medicine is love, care & compassion.” An inquiring mind asked him, ” what if it doesn’t work.?” He smiled & said, “increase the dose.” I will do my best to stop by Thursday or Friday & say hello & bring lots of love to your daughter & Kilee.
Much love & keep the faith,
Raquel Martinez 7022815822- please send me a text or im & let me know if she is still in room #12 in ICU.