Wind flips trailer, temporarily blocking southbound I-15

September 21, 2017 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE – A wind-related traffic accident on Interstate 15 caused traffic to come to a temporary halt near Kanarraville Thursday night.

Around 6:20 p.m., a Jeep Cherokee pulling a trailer was southbound on I-15 when it was blasted by strong winds, Utah High Patrol Trooper Clay Allred said.

That caused the trailer to overturn and block both southbound travel lanes around milepost 52.

Crash
SB I-15 at MP 52 (1 mi N of Kanarraville) Iron Co.
All Lanes Blocked
Use Alt Route

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) September 22, 2017

Traffic came to a standstill for 10 to 15 minutes, Allred said, causing traffic to quickly back up an estimated four miles.

As troopers worked to remove the Jeep and trailer, traffic began to move around the accident scene by going onto the shoulder and the median.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a wind advisory for much of southern and central Utah that warned of high winds through Thursday afternoon and evening till around 9 p.m.

The advisory warned of wind speeds between 25 and 35 mph with sudden gusts of up to 50 mph. The area of the advisory covered I-15 from St. George to Nephi.

“Motorists in the advisory area should be prepared for sudden gusty crosswinds which can make driving difficult,” the advisory stated.

The Jeep’s driver was unharmed as the vehicle itself was not overturned along with the trailer, Allred said.

The accident scene has since been cleared.

This report is based on statements from emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @MoriKessler