LEEDS, Utah, Nov. 1, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A man is in critical condition after a car struck him in the emergency lane on I-15 near Leeds early Tuesday morning.
The incident happened at about 6:30 a.m., when a white Pontiac G6 was traveling southbound in the left lane, according to a Utah Highway Patrol news release.
The driver told officers he was just south of exit 23 when another vehicle came into his lane, causing him to swerve to the left. The driver of the Pontiac lost control and struck the left concrete barrier, he said. After hitting the barrier, the Pontiac rolled over onto its top and came to rest in the left lane facing north.
A few moments later, a gold Saturn Ion came upon the crashed Pontiac. The driver of the Saturn failed to stop in time, and struck the Pontiac. The driver of the Saturn, a male in his 50s, got out of his vehicle after the crash and began to walk in the left emergency lane.
At about this time a green Toyota came upon the crash. The driver of the Toyota was unable to avoid the crash to the right due to other traffic. The driver of the Toyota swerved left and into the emergency lane while braking to avoid the crash. However, the Toyota struck the driver of the Saturn who was walking in the left emergency lane. It also struck the Pontiac.
The Toyota struck the pedestrian who came from the Saturn, who was standing on the right side of the vehicle, and it pushed him into the windshield.
A medical helicopter was called, then canceled by the Leeds Area Fire Department. The pedestrian was transported by ground to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
All drivers are believed to have been wearing seatbelts. Excessive speed, drugs, and alcohol are not suspected.
The drivers of the Toyota and Pontiac were not injured. The driver of the Pontiac was issued a citation for having no car insurance, driving on an expired driver license, and failure to maintain a single lane.
Southbound I-15 was closed for about two hours due to the crash, and traffic was diverted off of exit 23 southbound.
