At least 7 dead in 20-vehicle accident on Interstate 15 near Kanosh

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

At least 7 dead in 20-vehicle accident on Interstate 15 near Kanosh

A sandstorm is blamed for impairing visibility on the freeway through Millard County.

By Sean P. Means | July 26, 2021, 1:05 a.m. | Updated: 1:25 a.m.

At least seven people were killed in a multiple-vehicle crash near Kanosh on Sunday, as drivers were blinded by a sandstorm.

The Utah Highway Patrol reported that several people were taken to area hospitals Sunday in critical condition after the series of crashes — which involved at least 20 vehicles.

The collisions happened about 4:30 p.m. on Interstate 15 near milepost 152, between the Meadow and Kanosh exits in Millard County, about 150 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The crashes happened, UHP officials said, when high winds kicked up sand or dust, which impaired drivers’ visibility on the highway.

Traffic was halted in the southbound side of the interstate; on Sunday evening, UHP reported it expected to keep the lanes closed for several hours while it investigated the accident. Motorists diverted at the Meadow exit into Meadow and south on State Route 133 into Kanosh. Traffic was getting back onto I-15 at the Kanosh onramp.

{snip}

This is a developing story, and will be updated Monday morning.

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Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/07/25/least-dead-vehicle/

[SWBTATTReg]

1. And just how fast were these people going, despite the impaired visibility? I get so nervous

driving on any major highway, that people, despite the bad road conditions, weather, rain, you name it, will go way over the posted speed limit. That's why we always go the longer way home, over two lane, slower lanes of traffic, etc. on the way home, and not the faster way home, we're in that much of a hurry. Unfortunately, I wonder how many of these unfortunate victims were unwilling victims, that is, they did slow down, but still were caught up in the mess once it started (I guess the best solution is to get off the roadway when conditions get this bad, stop and have a cup of coffee or something, etc.).

[BumRushDaShow]

2. That has happened here in PA on the PA Turnpike with snow squalls

where one suddenly appears, causing visibility to drop to near zero, and causes chain-reaction crashes.

That is why the NWS finally phased in implementation of Snow Squall Warnings in 2018 as reported here by TWC - https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/snow-squall-warning-national-weather-service-winter-2018

I know I have heard people complain about the Warnings interrupting their precious activities, but anyone caught in any event - whether dust/sand storms, heavy or squally snow, heavy and/or freezing rain, or dense fog that causes the visibility to go to near zero and/or causes road conditions to deteriorate rapidly, should be glad to have such alerts available.

In the cases of many highways however, there may not be a nearby exit to get off and wait it out.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Global warming leads to droughts leads to sandstorms leads to deaths. . . . nt