Rainfall leading to dangerous roadways across Utah, 70+ crashes so far

SALT LAKE CITY — A spring storm that brought rainfall to the valley and snow to the higher elevations of northern Utah has been a danger to drivers across the valley today.

According to KSL NewsRadio Traffic Reporter Rikki Meece there have been four semi-trucks and other trucks that have either gone off the road, rolled, jack-knifed, or crashed today.

“Likely a combo of speeds too high for current conditions,” Meece said. “A lot of water on the roads, particularly the freeways.”

And Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Colton Freckleton agrees. “I think the biggest thing with these type of weather crashes is more … traveling too fast for conditions,” Freckleton told KSL Newsradio host Jeff Caplan.

“The posted speed limit in 70 mph [on most freeways] and people are driving the speed limit, but you don’t take into account the water on the ground. You need to be driving a lot slower that what the posted speed limit is.”

Meece said the snow in northern Utah’s higher elevations has been manageable for drivers, although there have been restrictions in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons as well as snow flurries in Parleys Canyon.

Freckleton said that, as of 4:00 p.m., UHP Troopers knew of more than 70 crashes. 

The National Weather Service predicts that rain will continue Monday night into Tuesday. By Wednesday, the chance for rain will have passed.

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