Utah sandstorm leaves seven dead in 20-vehicle highway pile-up
Visibility on Interstate 15 was reduced to dangerous levels
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least seven people have been killed in a 20-car pile up on a highway after a sandstorm reduced visibility to dangerous levels.
According to the state Department of Public Safety, the crash on Interstate 15 occurred at around 4:30 pm yesterday, and began when people began stopping in poor conditions – triggering what a highway patrol spokesman called a “chain reaction”.
“Nobody could see,” trooper Andrew Battenfield said, according to the New York Times. and then all of a sudden, you’re slamming into a car. It’s just a horrific situation.” The scale of the crash was such that it was not immediately clear to authorities how many people have been hospitalized, and a section of the highway was closed for several hours.
After the crash was reported, the Utah Highway Patrol called in multiple ground and air ambulances to rescue victims. Along with the seven who were killed, several other people have been taken to hospital, where some remain in critical condition.
The sandstorm that caused the crash arose as various areas of Utah faced extreme weather warnings, including flash floods as well as thunderstorms that stirred up dust and dirt from the dried-up ground.
Governor Spencer Cox said on Twitter that he was “stunned and saddened” by the “horrific” incident.
“We fervently pray for the loved ones of those who perished and for those fighting for their lives,” he wrote.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments