A rollover crash involving a semi-truck and four vehicles wreaked havoc on the northbound I-15 during the Monday morning commute in Salt Lake City. According to ABC4, the accident occurred near 1200 South, leaving all but one lane blocked and the northbound on-ramp from 1300 South closed. Sergeant Mike Alexander with Utah Highway Patrol confirmed that the semi was one of the four vehicles involved, and one individual sustained moderate injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Following the crash, reported first by the Utah Department of Transportation at about 6:20 a.m., the highway was significantly bottlenecked. A truck, which tipped onto its side, hauling liquor according to KUTV, was blocking multiple lanes of traffic, which forced first responders to additionally close two lanes, creating further congestion. Despite the urgency with which crews were working to clear the scene, early traffic cameras showed a severe slowdown that stretched for miles.
In response to the congestion, UDOT suggested that drivers use an alternative route, such as I-215 or State Street. In a scene that showed the aftermath, traffic was drastically impacted as far back as the I-215 interchange near 6400 South, nearly seven miles from the incident, explains KUTV. Even after lanes were reopened by 9 a.m., delays were expected to continue impacting the traffic flow.
While the overall impact of the crash was being assessed, lanes remained closed until around 8:30 a.m., as noted by KSLTV. "Sgt. Mike Alexander with the Utah Highway Patrol said only one person had moderate injuries in the crash," a truck which rolled over could be seen on the left shoulder for several hours following the accident. The condition of the injured party, either treated at the scene or taken to the hospital, was not immediately clear, added Alexander.
