The Utah Highway Patrol is still working to piece together the chain of events that led to the 22 vehicle pile-up on Interstate 15 over the weekend.
The accident happened on Sunday evening, July 25th and killed eight people, including four children.
As of Tuesday afternoon, UHP says they believe the chain reactions started with one crash that blocked the roadway, leading to multiple crashes as other motorists tried to slow down or avoid the wreckage. These crashes culminated in a semi truck successfully stopping to avoid the previous wrecks, which caused an even larger pile up as vehicles smashed into the back of it.
“We are still looking into what people did that played a part in this crash,” said UHP Sgt Cameron Roden to KSL. “With low visibility like that, and what people experienced there, was a very very dangerous situation. Not being able to see what’s in front of you, any hazards that may be there, like a crash in front of you, and are driving right into it.”
Roden says that the UHP believes that even more vehicles were at least partially involved in the wrecks, but that these motorists may have kept driving or exited the freeway.
“With the size and scope of that scene, officers still are looking and trying to put all the pieces together as far as what actually happened first,” added Roden. “And we are not even sure we have all the vehicles who were involved in the crash.”
Any drivers who were involved in the crash but did not stick around are encouraged to contact the Nephi office of the Highway Patrol.
