In this 2015 file image, ice on Interstate 15 spurred five single-vehicle crashes and four slide-offs on the Black Ridge between mileposts 36 and 42, Washington County, Utah, Jan. 8, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — As part of Southern Utah saw its first snow, at least 25 crashes were reported within a six-hour span Thursday morning on Southern Utah highways.

Of those 25 crashes, six occurred on northbound I-15 and 16 occurred on southbound I-15. The majority of those crashes were in Iron County between mileposts 44 and 56.

Eleven of the crashes occurred during the 6 o’clock hour while nine crashes occurred in the 7 o’clock hour.

Slow down and buckle up

When roads are slick from water or ice, motorists should slow down, wear a seat belt and avoid “heavy breaking” and “too much steering,” Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jake Hicks said in an earlier interview with St. George News.

Hicks also said to be sure cruise control is set to off when traveling on wet roads, snowy or icy roads. Motorists who do crash or slide off the road should call 911 and then get to the safest place to be, Hicks said.

“If they crashed in that location,” he said, “it’s likely that another car will crash in that location, and so they need to find a way to protect themselves.”

Sometimes the safest place to be, he said, is to stand behind a cable rail or barrier of some kind.

“Generally, we suggest staying in the vehicle with their seat belt on, and if that’s not doable or reasonable then it’s OK to get out of your car and find somewhere safer,” Hicks said.

The Utah Department of Transportation reported the following incidents Thursday morning:

• 3:25 a.m. | SR-20 at milepost 3 – 3 miles east of I-15 | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 5:07 a.m.
• 6:09 a.m. | SR-59 at milepost 3 – 2 miles north of Hilldale | Washington County | Estimated clearance time: 8:06 a.m.
• 6:15 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 124 – 8 miles S of Cover Fort | Beaver County | Estimated clearance time: 7:12 a.m.
• 6:22 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 49 – Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 7:19 a.m.
• 6:25 a.m. | SR-20 at milepost 12 – 8 miles west of US-89 Junction | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 7:22 a.m.
• 6:25 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 50 – Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 7:24 a.m.
• 6:34 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 47 – 4 miles south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:33 a.m.
• 6:38 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 44 – Rest Area south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 7:35 a.m.
• 6:44 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 44 – Rest Area south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:41 a.m.
• 6:50 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 51 – Hamilton Fort / Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:47 a.m.
• 6:57 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 55 – 2 miles south of Cedar City | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 7:54 a.m.
• 6:57 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 33 – 6 miles north of Toquerville | Washington County | Estimated clearance time: 8:55 a.m.
• 7 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 51 – Hamilton Fort / Kanarraville) | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:58 a.m.
• 7:04 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 46 – 5 miles south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:00 a.m.
• 7:17 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 56 – 1 mile south of Cedar City | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:13 a.m.
• 7:23 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 46 – 5 miles south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:21 a.m.
• 7:32 a.m. | Update: I-15 southbound at milepost 44 – Rest Area south of Kanarraville | Iron County | One lane open
• 7:37 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 45 – 6 miles south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:35 a.m.
• 7:47 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 56 – 1 mile south of Cedar City) | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:44 a.m.
• 7:57 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 64 – 1000 East / Cedar City | Iron County Cleared At 7:48 a.m.
• 7:50 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 50 – Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:48 a.m.
• 7:57 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 45 – 6 miles south of Kanarraville | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 8:55 a.m.
• 8:01 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 43 – 1 mile north of New Harmony | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:58 a.m.
• 8:04 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 56 – 1 mile south of Cedar City | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 9:02 a.m.
• 8:11 a.m. | Both directions SR-20 closed at milepost 10 – 10 miles east of I-15 | Iron County | Use alternate route
• 8:21 a.m. | Northbound I-15 at milepost 42 – New Harmony | Washington County | Estimated clearance time: 10:20 a.m.
• 8:49 a.m. | Cleared: Crash SR-20 between I-15 at US-89 | Iron County | All lanes open
• 8:49 a.m. | Cleared: Crash I-15 southbound at milepost 44 – Rest Area south of Kanarraville | Iron County| All lanes open
• 9: 25 a.m. | Southbound I-15 at milepost 62 – Cedar City | Iron County | Estimated clearance time: 11:23 a.m.

Resources

• Vehicle Preparation and Safety Precautions for Winter Weather

• UDOT’s Road Weather Alerts
• UDOT’s Current Road Conditions
• UDOT’s smartphone travel app

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