Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ORDERVILLE, Kane County — Fourteen people were injured in a crash on U.S. 89 in Kane County, south of Orderville.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers said the crash occurred Thursday between Mount Carmel Junction and Orderville.
A van with 14 occupants was heading south when it crossed the center line and hit a northbound semitruck head-on, UHP Sgt. Cameron Roden said. A car behind the van then collided into the back of the van.
A woman related to one of the crash victims told KSL-TV the occupants of the van were participating in a running festival that spans three days and they were on their way to Zion National Park.
Three passengers in the van were transported to a hospital via medical helicopter in critical condition. The other 11 occupants were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, and the drivers of the semi and car were both uninjured.
UHP Sgt. Joshua Johnson said some of the van's occupants weren't wearing seat belts and some victims received injuries from the occupants who were unbuckled.
"Several of them that didn't have as severe of injuries were saying that they were wearing their seat belts. So seat belts — the No. 1 thing you can do to help reduce your risk in a crash," Johnson said.
Roden said investigators are working to determine what led to the van crossing lanes.
Contributing: Brianna Chavez
