Road rage blamed for 4-car pileup

(Photo courtesy Utah Department of Public Safety)

Sam Penrod reporting

A woman was critically injured this morning in a freeway crash that the Utah Highway Patrol says started with road rage. It forced I-15 to be closed in Utah County during morning rush hour.

The trouble seems to have started with an impatient driver who was going into the left shoulder and trying to pass. It ended with a crash that involved four cars and sent one driver to the hospital in critical condition.

The crash happened during the morning commute on I-15 in Utah County just north of Payson. Troopers say that traffic was moderate, and this section of the freeway is only two lanes.

A driver became aggressive and was following too close and caused a four-car crash. The collision was so severe a woman had to be extricated from her car. She was flown to the hospital by a medical helicopter in critical condition with chest injuries.

An elderly man and woman in a minivan were transported by ground in critical and moderate condition.

Troopers say there is no excuse for a crash like this. "Anytime you have road rage it can start from a fender bender to hand gestures. This situation is ended up with the vehicle going through the median and struck another vehicle going southbound. It caused quite a horrific accident," trooper Matt Urban said.

The driver involved in the road rage was charged with reckless driving for causing the accident, and highway patrol troopers say witnesses who stayed at the scene will really help make sure the driver is prosecuted. Having several witness statements in a road rage incident like this is important for the case.

Troopers continue to warn that road rage is a serious problem on the freeways, and the best thing you can do is avoid getting involved in any kind of confrontation while you are on the road.

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