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Alex Cabrero and Randall Jeppesen reportingAfter a few days of nice, warm weather, we certainly were reminded that winter isn't over just yet.
No one knows that better than a driver heading on Highway 6 through Spanish Fork Canyon.
The driver lost control of his car and got into an accident, forcing the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) to close the road for several hours. The accident happened this morning around 7:20.
The driver of the Honda Civic lost control of his car, slammed into a concrete barrier and then crossed into the other lane of traffic. He then smashed into a semi truck, which sent the semi truck into the other lane of traffic into a pickup truck. UHP Trooper Richard Nielson said, "[It] could have been a lot worse if it was smaller, compact car."
Nielson said, "I'm sure speed played a factor in this crash."
The driver of the car and the driver of the pickup truck were taken to the hospital. "There's nothing real serious. Minor injuries from what I've been told. They should recover fairly quickly from it," said Nielson.
Some gas from the pickup spilled out, but crews say it was a small amount and didn't pose any danger.
Their bigger concern was the stability of the concrete barrier that was hit because it was on a bridge over a railroad track. "Very lucky that no one went over," said Nielson. "The side support on the bridge, the barrier, held up and prevented the vehicles from going over the side, which very possibly could have happened."
The Utah Department of Transportation checked it out. "They cleared it and said the traffic was OK to travel on it at this time," Neilson said.
The road was reopened just before noon.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
