Posted on 07/26/2021 9:00:55 AM PDT by sodpoodle
Seven people are dead and several more were critically injured when authorities say a sand or dust storm caused visibility issues that led to a series of crashes involving 20 vehicles in Utah Sunday evening. The crashes happened on I-15 near Kanosh, the Utah Department of Public Service (DPS) said in a news release. Several people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, officials said. Authorities did not specify how many people were injured but noted there could be more fatalities. "It appears that 20 vehicles were involved in Sunday's crashes after high winds caused a sand or dust storm and impaired visibility on the roadway," the release said. "The Utah Highway Patrol summoned troopers from Richfield and Beaver to assist. Multiple ground and air ambulances also responded to transport victims." Images of the crash site show multiple tractor trailers and several damaged passenger vehicles littering the road, with debris scattered for yards. The National Weather Service on Sunday noted a different storm, south of the crash, also created a dangerous dust storm. Names of the crash victims won't be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified, the release said. Kanosh is about 155 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Probably caused by global warming (or racism)
You know where you were going a second ago, so continue on that path to a safe speed or stop.
Especially if you're towing a trailer!
I-15 is the main link between Vegas and SLC.
Indeed, I had to excerpt the article, but this was in it!!
*****Climate scientists have said this year’s historic drought is fueled by climate change, which decreases precipitation and causes more soil-drying heat waves.*****
You are right and but they should get to the shoulder quickly. But be careful of the big rigs as they can’t slow down as fast as a passenger car/truck. I have a truck driver that works for me and he was just telling me the story of a similar situation. Every one was slowing down and pulling to the shoulder so he moved over into the left lane. He hit a pickup with 5 guys in it, 2 in the cab and 3 under the canopy. They had come to a complete stop in the lane and there was nothing he could do. He killed the 3 in the back of the truck.
“Probably caused by global warming (or racism)”
Dam, you beat me to it!!!
There is plenty of frontage along there. One can easily slow up and pull off I-15 along that section.
Rural interstate highways in Utah have a 80 mph speed limit. Drive I-70 thru southern Utah periodically on my way to Las Vegas. I-70 intersects I-15 just south of where this accident occurred. I-70 which begins just outside Baltimore, MD ends at this point. Very picturesque area ... have never experienced limited visibility in sandstorms ... but given strong winds in high desert like terrain I can see why they could occur.
How awful. Prayers up.
You forgot: Trump’s fault
“Hint: DO NOT SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES just because you lose visibility!!! ..... “You know where you were going a second ago, so continue on that path to a safe speed or stop.”
Yes. Been through a sandstorm before and been in an unbelievable torrential rain downpour, losing all visibility both times, and going at least 60 when they hit. You have no idea where anyone is behind or in front, but you know where they were seconds before, so do not slam on the brakes, unless you are hoping to get rear ended.
You do turn your lights and your emergency blinkers on. You try to see to your right as best you can and very gradually reduce speed while gradually trying to creep to your right. Carefully identify when it feels like the surface under the car is changing from regular payment to the shoulder and then, gradually, keeping watch in both directions, try to slow to a stop. If all goes well yours and a bunch of other cars will be lined up and stopped somewhere on the side of the road, usually in bunches.
I remember when this happened in a sandstorm between Phoenix and Palm Springs and I was driving and I was pissed because all my passengers were dead asleep and I couldn’t get them to wake up (kind of selfish like “why I am going through this alone” attitude).
When we got up to the mountain pass between Palm Springs and Redlands I stopped at a gas station and had the engine air cleaner blown out and the air filter changed.
I have a distant relative from that band who, back in the 1930s and 1940s was a rodeo champion and made lots of money. But he had little use for the money and did things with it ranging from setting up a tribal clinic on the Kanosh reservation to changing it into nickels and dimes and throwing it out in parades for children to latch onto. Once in awhile, he would go into one of the bigger towns in the area to buy himself a new pair of jeans and, once, even a pickup truck.
I-15 is 80MPH from just south of Provo almost to St George on the Nevada border. But in a sand storm you slow down pull over and shut off the engine. It’s a good way to clog your air filter if you keep running the engine.
Slow down gradually, drop a gear or two, put on the flashers and look for a safe place to pull over.
I heard that if possible it was a good idea, after pulling off the road, to get out of your vehicle and as far away from the road as possible. Does that seem like good advice in a situation like this?
The question is "Which way is a safe direction?"
Certainly not the Center median.
Assuming that you're able to pull off on the Right shoulder and the terrain permits, then moving further Right seems appropriate.
It also depend on what the "blinding agent" is and is it continuing?
Dust storm and still can't see?
Rain storm and still can't see?"
Snow storm and still can't see?"
Thank you. I was riding a bus when it came over a rise in the freeway to find a car straddling broadside lanes 2 and 3 of the four lanes and cars were pulled over on both sides of the shoulder next to the incident, trying to help the person in the car. This was ironically in Salt Lake City. At any rate, the bus driver had no chance to avoid the accident except by sideswiping the cars on the left shoulder and dropping into the median. In that case we could see enough to take evasive action but I have seen accidents where cars pulled over end up crunched by semis in the rear.
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