UHP warns drivers to be cautious on US 6 in Spanish Fork after a number of crashes

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Freeway Patrol is warning drivers to watch out on U.S. 6 after a horrific crash and a semitruck hearth shut down the street over the weekend. That stretch of street goes from Spanish Fork to Worth.

“We have had fairly a number of crashes on that roadway,” Utah Freeway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden stated. “It is a mountainous roadway with a variety of turns and twist. It’s a high-altitude roadway; snow and temperatures play an enormous a part of that.”

Early Sunday morning, a 6-year-old woman died in a head-on collision. Investigators stated the motive force of the truck the woman was driving in turned drowsy. One other multi-vehicle crash that occurred on Monday afternoon despatched 4 folks to the hospital. Hours later, U.S. 6 needed to be shut down once more when a semitruck went up in flames.

“We sort of see some frequent denominators, whether or not that be distraction, fatigue, improper passing or velocity too quick for that roadway,” Roden stated.

He stated in 2022 there have been 360 crashes and eight fatalities. In 2023 there have been 208 crashes with 13 folks killed. And this yr since January 1, there have been 27 crashes with one dying.

He stated the most effective security suggestions for drivers embody being alert, slowing down and never driving too quick round corners, and “if fatigue is beginning to set in, be sure to cease and change drivers,” he stated.

“Be sure to do not get impatient when making an attempt to go when it isn’t protected to take action,” Roden stated.

The Utah Division of Transportation stated it has finished a number of main tasks over time to maintain the street protected. It widened the roadway with added passing lanes, put in rumble strips to wake drivers up if they’re crossing the road, and crews simply accomplished a median barrier undertaking at Soldier Summit to attempt to stop crossover crashes. Plus, extra is coming.

“Our transportation fee simply accepted an extra undertaking that is going to place extra median boundaries in, and that is going to be an enormous focus going ahead,” stated UDOT spokesman John Gleason. “However with the whole lot that we do, we want folks to do their half as properly. Which means driving centered, driving with their seat belts on, and do not drive aggressively and do not velocity.”