Accident Stops Southbound Traffic On I-15

By STEPHANIE BUNKER

Moapa Valley Progress

Travellers and commuters were delayed on the I-15 on Wednesday morning, July 10, due to a vehicle accident which occurred in the southbound lanes. The incident, which took place at mile marker 86 near the Byron exit, was called into the Nevada Highway Patrol at 7:33 am.

The accident involved two vehicles: a a tractor trailer with a box trailer and a Honda Civic. According to Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Loy Hickson only two people were involved in the accident.

The male driver of the semi truck was taken by ambulance to UMC Hospital, while the female driver of the Honda was flown by helicopter to UMC. According to the report, both drivers have no life threatening conditions.

Rescue vehicles were dispatched to the scene from Logandale Station 73, as well as an engine and water tender from Overton Station 74.

After the collision of the two vehicles, the semi truck carrying a load of gypsum overturned causing the sand to be spilled partially over the roadway. Road clean up crews were called in to take care of the powder dirt form of the gypsum. A portion of the Interstate was closed down until 10:30 that morning.

Although the trailers on the semi truck just overturned, there was significant damage to the vehicle.

“Because of the light weight aluminum the trucks are made out of, it bends and crushes easy,” Hixon explained.

This caused the cab of the truck to become mangled as the truck overturned, Hixon said.