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Everybody's already used all the funny comments I could think of on this story, like "crappy commute," traffic was "backed-up," etc. The comments to the main story on ksl.com are intense! I'll just attempt to share what happened to me as I covered the story.
I was sent at 6:40 to cover the accident and I-15 closure. I drove north on I-15 and passed the scene, exited at 2600 South in Bountiful and tried to get back on the freeway to go southbound. That's where the freeway was closed, and the police wouldn't let anybody on. But usually they let the media onto the freeway to get to the scene. While passing the accident I saw that Channel Five was there. But the policeman wouldn't let me on the freeway. He said to use a frontage road. So, a photographer from another station and I found a dead end road right by the scene of the accident. We had to hike up the hill with our gear and climb over the wall or barrier to get to the scene. Not the safest way to cover a story but it was a thrill. And to think I almost wore a skirt and heels today!
I felt like a fugitive -- there I was, in this marshy, hilly area between the train tracks and the freeway, a helicopter hovering overhead. I thought I'd hear "hands up!" at any minute. Once I climbed up and over and was standing on the closed freeway I saw quite a mess. I'm attaching pictures I hope do justice to the hill I climbed and the state of the road. Broken glass, huge pieces of cars, fuel and port-o-potty contents were all over the road. I admire the UDOT workers who came to sand it down and sweep it all up.
The freeway opened at 8 AM. By 8:04 when it was time for me to go live, the parade of cars had reached me. It looked like a parade, even though not a fun one. Troopers and police cars were going slowly down the road to make sure it was all clear. Behind them were thousands of vehicles. I could almost see the drivers' faces, itching to go after sitting for so long. I got stuck in the residual backups on my way back to the station at 8:45. But I had my memory of the climb up the hill to keep me company!
