14 hospitalized in crash on US-89
Oct 5, 2023, 4:25 PM | Updated: 11:05 pm
KANE COUNTY — Three people were airlifted to hospitals and 11 others were transported with injuries from a crash on U.S. Highway 89 Thursday.
According to Sgt. Cam Roden with Utah Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at milepost 83 on US-89, between Mount Carmel Junction and Orderville.
A van with 14 occupants was headed southbound and a semitruck was traveling northbound when the van crossed over into the oncoming lane of traffic.
The semitruck then collided head-on with the van and a third car crashed into the back of the van.
The semitruck driver and the driver of the third car were not injured in the crash. However, three occupants of the van were airlifted in critical condition and 11 others were transported with non-life-threatening injuries.
Roden said they are working to determine why the van crossed into oncoming traffic.
“Some of the injuries were caused by unbuckled people hitting others, possibly even were buckled,” said Sgt. Joshua Johnson. “So it was the unbuckled ones that were injured or injured others.”
UHP confirmed some of the passengers in the van were not wearing seatbelts. They also confirmed they were apart of a running group. A woman who’s related to one of the victims says they were participating in the Grand Circle Trailfest. They ran at Bryce Canyon and were heading to Zion. Crash is still under investigation.
“I would say buckle up,” Johnson said. “Certainly, the passengers that weren’t buckled had more severe injuries, for the most part. It was several of the occupants in the van that were not seat-belted. So seat belts, the number one thing you can do to help reduce your risk in a crash.”
