Domino effect: Trailer impound on I-15 precedes 3 collisions in 10 minutes

Damage to a vehicle after three collisions within one half mile happened on Interstate 15, Washington, Utah, July 9, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick

WASHINGTON CITY — Traffic on northbound Interstate 15 through Washington City slowed to a crawl Thursday after three separate rear-end collisions happened within minutes of each other on the same half-mile stretch of road. Utah Department of Transportation Incident Management crews were on scene to assist with traffic control.

Traffic slowed after three collisions within one half mile happened on Interstate 15, Washington, Utah, July 9, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick
Traffic slowed after three collisions within one half mile happened on Interstate 15, Washington, Utah, July 9, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick

The collisions all happened between the Green Springs Drive exit and the Washington Parkway exit when traffic slowed first around Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Taj Eldredge, who was in the process of impounding an abandoned trailer, and then in response to a succession of  collisions.

The first collision occurred when a white Chevy Impala drifted off the road into the median and a Mazda hit it from behind. It was unclear why the Impala was going off the road or why the Mazda then hit it, Eldredge said. There were no injuries reported and no citations were issued.

Both cars in the first collision were driven to the Washington Parkway Maverik station as quickly as possible allowing traffic to resume normal flow but not before two more rear-end collisions, further back, occurred, each involving two vehicles.

The second collision involved a 27-year-old male driver of a red Subaru Outback with Minnesota plates who ran into the back of a silver Nissan Rogue driven by a 30-year-old female. Neither driver reported any injuries or had any passengers.  The drivers were able to drive both cars from the scene, removing them from the Interstate at Washington Parkway exit. The driver of the Subaru was cited for following too closely.

Damage to a vehicle after three collisions within one half mile happened on Interstate 15, Washington, Utah, July 9, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick
Damage to a vehicle after three collisions within one half mile happened on Interstate 15, Washington, Utah, July 9, 2015 | Photo by Nataly Burdick

The third collision was very minor and a report was not filed for it, UHP Trooper Jesse Williams said. No injuries were reported and no citations were issued.

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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4 Comments

  • anybody home July 10, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Years ago after my first trip through Utah, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Don’t Drive Through Utah.” I thought it was funny but after living in Utah and witnessing the incredibly bad driving in this state, I don’t think it’s funny anymore. Maybe it’s the 80 mph speed limit (with people going closer to 90-100) or maybe it’s the number of people on drugs or maybe it’s something else, but whatever it is, it’s mayhem. I think that old bumper sticker had it right.

    • fun bag July 10, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      don’t know what the cause is, but i know for a fact that the higher speed limit has made it worse. whatever a-hole thought the 80mph was such a cute idea needs to be fired…

  • DesertBill July 11, 2015 at 8:50 am

    The speed limit where these three accidents occurred is 65 mph.

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