Motor Home Catches Fire On I-80; Car Hits Responding Firetruck
Sep 2, 2019, 3:55 PM | Updated: Jan 4, 2023, 11:54 am
A motor home caught fire on eastbound I-80 on Labor Day, causing heavy delays. A woman also rear-ended a responding firetruck during the incident. (Utah Highway Patrol)
(Utah Highway Patrol)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A motor home caught fire on eastbound I-80 in Parley’s Canyon and caused heavy delays in both directions.
Officials said the incident happened Monday just before 1:30 p.m. As crews were fighting the flames, a car rear-ended one of the responding firetrucks. One firefighter was on the back of the truck and was not injured. However, Utah Highway Patrol officials said it was a close call.
A 37-year-old woman from Winter Park, Colorado, was driving the motor home when she noticed smoke coming from the floorboards.
She pulled over to the right shoulder where the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
No occupants in the motor home were injured.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, troopers said a 21-year-old woman hit a firetruck as she was checking her blind spot.
She suffered minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital.
All eastbound lanes have been reopened, but firefighters and UHP troopers said they observed multiple drivers filming on their phones or stopping in traffic to observe the incident.
They asked that all drivers put away their phones, pay attention to the distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them and to wear their seat belts at all times.
