Three people killed after chain-reaction crash in Wasatch County
Jun 7, 2021, 10:40 PM | Updated: Jun 8, 2021, 11:33 am
Emergency vehicles are seen at the site of a chain-reaction crash on US-189. Photo credit: Jay Hancock
HEBER, Utah — The Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) reports that three people were killed in two vehicles after a chain-reaction crash at US-189 and 3000 South Monday afternoon.
The crash stopped traffic in both directions for several hours.
KSL 5 TV reporter Andrew Adams said that the crash began when a Jeep slowed down abruptly, causing a rear-end collision with a red truck.
After the crash, the Jeep caught fire which set another vehicle on fire which had t-boned the Jeep during the chain reaction crash.
Adams reports that the UHP was working late Monday night to identify those who died in the fire through the vehicles’ identification numbers.
Officials with Utah Highway Patrol say an investigation is already ongoing to hopefully determine what caused the fire.
“There wasn’t an obvious reason, at least on the scene at the time,” explained Lt. Nick Street to KSL Newsradio’s Dave & Dujanovic.
When asked about a gas can potentially igniting the flames, he said it largely remains to be seen.
“That didn’t appear to be an obvious reason, but definitely something our investigation is going to focus on,” he explained.
Driver Alert: Both directions of US-189 at MP 26, just west of the Heber airport, in Charleston are closed. Motorists should expect delay. Check the UDOT Traffic App or @waze for updates. @UDOTRegionthree @UtahTrucking @UtahDOT
— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) June 8, 2021
He adds that according to eyewitnesses, flames were visible pretty quickly after the initial crash occurred.
On the idea of a vehicle defect being at fault, he says it’s something they’ll keep an eye out for.
“If there is something obviously to do with manufacturing or a defect, we will communicate effectively with the Jeep manufacturer,” he said.
