Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Sandra Yi ReportingThe Utah Highway Patrol is warning drivers to slow down. This morning troopers responded to several rollovers on I-80 in a period of five minutes. One of those accidents almost killed them.
Trooper Clay Morgan: "The roads were extremely icy. It rolled in quite quick. There was a light skiff of snow on the road which caused the road to ice over instantly."
Bad conditions this morning made for a dangerous commute on I-80. Within minutes there were half a dozen slide-offs and rollovers on Parley's Summit.
Trooper Bryn Elton: "When it's cold and you see that the roads are wet like that, you can probably be assured that there's going to be some ice on the road, and you need to slow down."
One truck rolled over into the median after the driver hit an icy patch. Troopers say he was going too fast for conditions. Then another vehicle going eastbound on I-80 lost control.
Trooper Bryn Elton: "It's just amazing. It's like one of those videos you see on those police shows on TV."
A van with eight people inside slammed into the truck, sending the trailer and debris flying in the troopers' direction. All this as the driver of the truck was still in his vehicle. Luckily, he was not hurt.
Trooper Clay Morgan: "It was extremely slow motion. It was just like the movies where they show all the stuff cratering behind you and you just can't get away from it. That's what it felt like."
Trooper Bryn Elton: "I just remember looking out and the entire road was covered with band equipment, amplifiers, guitars and keyboards all over the place."
The troopers were not injured. One patrol car had minor damage. Still, the experience was too close for comfort.
Trooper Bryn Elton: "I have been involved in a shooting before and that was definitely a scary situation. I'd have to say that this situation, being that close to a bad accident was much scarier."
Both troopers say they were very lucky. They say unfortunately, that's not always the case.
Trooper Clay Morgan: "If you notice the roads are wet, slow down, take your time and get there and get there safe."
The Summit County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash because a trooper's car was damaged. No one in the van was injured.
