Police change Big Cottonwood Canyon closure policy after wreck

Jan 26, 2021, 5:55 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2022, 12:57 pm

Dashcam footage from canyon accident

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — After a vehicle accident with injuries on Sunday shut down Big Cottonwood Canyon, Unified Police announced a policy shift on closing the canyon road in the future.

A pickup truck collided with a Subaru about 1:30 in the afternoon near the S curve about 4 miles up the canyon. Both vehicles plunged 40 feet down to the creek below.

Terrifying dash cam video of crash up Big Cottonwood Canyon today @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/L7cNnbI6St

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) January 25, 2021

Meanwhile, skiers and boarders heading to and from the ski resorts were stuck — for hours.

Four people were injured in the collision in Big Cottonwood Canyon. One person in serious condition was taken to a hospital, according to Unified Police. In order to rescue victims of the crash, the canyon road was closed.

After three hours, downhill traffic was reopened about 4:30, but closed again around 5:30 to allow tow trucks to retrieve the two vehicles in the crash.

Both lanes of traffic reopened at 7:15 p.m. after both vehicles were towed away from the wreck, according to KSL.com.

The Unified Police Department described the situation in a tweet:

#RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 The downhill lane remains open. Uphill lane will open for @RideUTA #SkiBus only to pick up passengers at the resort. The 2nd tow truck has arrived but crews will do their best to keep downhill lane open.🚧 @UDOTTRAFFIC @UPDSL @BrightonResort @SolitudeMTN https://t.co/dNtFY6Xwo0

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) January 25, 2021

After receiving feedback on closing the canyon Sunday, Unified Police announced a policy change in a tweet Tuesday.

Moving forward, unless an active break exists in the river the vehicle will be left until a less busy time to remove it.

Here’s a statement regarding the closure of the canyon road on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/KEQ6NB6FGw

— Unified Police Dept (@UPDSL) January 26, 2021

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