WASHINGTON CITY — Two people were sent to the hospital following a rollover from which a woman was ejected on Interstate 15 after the car landed hundreds of yards from the roadway Sunday afternoon.
Utah Highway Patrol responded to the incident involving a dark blue Dodge Neon just south of Exit 13 near the northbound lane of Interstate 15 at approximately 3:25 p.m, UHP Trooper Jake Hicks said.
After speaking with the driver and witnesses, Hicks said the driver was traveling north on I-15 in the No. 2 lane, and for an unknown reason, the car veered into the No. 1 lane next to the median.
The driver turned the steering wheel sharply to the right and over-corrected, which sent the car skidding off of the roadway and down the embankment, Hicks said.
“He jerked the wheel back to the right, and you can tell from the skid marks that he went skidding off at that point,” Hicks said.
The car continued sliding sideways as it crashed through two barbed wire fences before it rolled over, landing upright hundreds of feet from the Interstate.
“He rolled over one time before the car landed back on its wheels,” Hicks said.
The driver told the trooper that he had been having problems with the steering, and the man believed a mechanical issue may have led to the crash.
The driver was uninjured in the collision, while the two passengers suffered minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment, Hicks said.
“Both the driver and the front seat passenger were wearing seat belts,” Hicks said, “while the passenger in the back seat was unrestrained and witnesses said she was ejected during the rollover.”
Hicks said the injuries were consistent with the woman landing on the soft sand where the crash occurred, and she was not struck by the vehicle or any other objects during the ejection.
The vehicle sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene.
Northbound traffic in the area slowed.
The investigation into the crash and related circumstances is still ongoing.
Washington City Police and deputies from Washington County Sheriff’s Office also responded, while St. George Fire and Gold Cross Ambulance assisted at the scene.
This report is based on statements from law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Washington County Sheriff's Office and UHP Troopers near the Dodge that rolled over on I-15 Saturday, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News The dark blue Dodge Neon slid sideways, skidded and rolled as it crashed through two barbed wire fences Sunday, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Washington County Sheriff's Office and UHP Troopers near the Dodge that rolled over on I-15 Saturday, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News The dark blue Dodge Neon slid sideways, skidded and rolled as it crashed through two barbed wire fences Sunday, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Dark blue Dodge Neon is towed after a rollover on I-15 sends the vehicle hundreds of yards from the roadway Sunday, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Skid marks are visible from the inside lane to the end of the roadway when officers respond to a rollover on I-15 northbound just south of Exit 13 to transport two passengers, Washington City, Utah, May 28, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
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The driver never takes responsibility, it’s always, had trouble with the car….. Why didn,t they take it to a garage and have it fixed before the trip..,over correcting. That’s common too. At least it’s not people over 90 this time or medical reasons..
Yes sandie, it more than likely wasn’t a defect with the car. It was likely this clown’s first instinct to avoid personal responsibility and blame anyone/anything but himself. Sounds like they all got very lucky here.
Then again, it is a dodge neon. Defective steering really isn’t something to play around with. And our wonderfully thorough (sarcasm), 4 to 5 minute state-mandated safety inspections could have so very easily missed such a thing. Hmm….
Of course its always the drivers fault, never could be a mechanical error!!! Let me tell you Sandie and comments I owned a Dodge Neon and I survived!!!(barely) Yes they are known for steering problems, radiador, transmission, and everything and anything else you have under the hood!!! They are the worst cars made and known to mankind!!! I hate to see something happen to one of you and you try and blame it on something that wasn’t of your doing and see how many sympathetic ears you have!!! And no I dont know these people!!! Or any people I comment about!!!
i believe u. i was very curious to know if this is a utah car. i see no plates to tell.
I was shocked myself to realize what kind of car it was!!! Truly a blessing ?
That is to be able to walk away