A 74-year-old man ends up 100 feet off the road in a ravine after having a medical episode while driving on state Route 59 near milepost 16, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — A 74-year-old man was transported to the hospital Friday morning after crashing his car during a medical episode and ending up 100 feet off the roadway in a ravine.
At approximately 9:20 a.m., emergency responders received a report of the single-vehicle crash on state Route 59 at milepost 16 near Apple Valley, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Keil said.
Witnesses told authorities that the man passed their vehicle traveling north, Keil said, and they saw him go off the right side of the road before overcorrecting, coming back across both lanes of traffic and jumping off the road into the ravine.
The man, who reportedly told responders he was experiencing a diabetic episode, sustained minor facial injuries from hitting his head on the steering wheel, Keil said, adding that he was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George due to having very low blood sugar.
SR-59 was reduced to a single lane of travel, slowing traffic for nearly two hours, as crews worked to clear the scene and a tow truck struggled to pull the car out of the ravine.
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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A 74-year-old man was transported to the hospital after crashing his car into a ravine 100 feet off the road after having a medical episode on state Route 59 near milepost 16, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
A 74-year-old man ends up 100 feet off the road in a ravine after having a medical episode while driving on state Route 59 near milepost 16, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Keil directs traffic backed up on state Route 59 near milepost 16 following a single-vehicle crash, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Keil directs traffic backed up on state Route 59 near milepost 16 following a single-vehicle crash, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
A 74-year-old man ends up 100 feet off the road in a ravine after having a medical episode while driving on state Route 59 near milepost 16, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
A tow truck struggles to pull a crashed car out of the ravine on state Route 59 near milepost 16, Washington County, Utah, March 16, 2018 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kimberly Scott is a lifetime resident of Southern Utah. In 2013, Kimberly joined St. George News as a vital member of its editing, reporting and administrative team. She is passionate about engaging communities through writing and is dedicated to providing complete and accurate coverage of both anticipated and breaking news.