This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Five people were injured, two critically, in two separate accidents Friday on Interstate 15 in southern Utah.
A southbound Cadillac tried to pass a motor home near mile post 36 in St. George and hydroplaned, striking the motor home, spinning out and striking the guardrail. The driver of a Jeep Cherokee that was farther back tried to stop but struck the driver's door of the Cadillac, according to the Utah Highway Patrol
The driver of the Cadillac was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas in critical condition. Two others were taken to the hospital in serious condition.
There was heavy rainfall in the area at the time of the accident, according to UHP.
Then about 2 p.m., a southbound semitruck pulling a box trailer stopped near mile post 37 due to traffic backing up from the first crash. The driver of an Acura swerved to avoid the semi but struck one of the box trailer tires and came to a stop next to the trailer.
The driver of a third vehicle, a Pontiac G6, braked to avoid the Acura and the semi but went into a spin, and its passenger side struck the rear of the semi.
A female passenger of the Pontiac was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas in critical condition. Her 16-year-old sister, the driver, was taken to Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City with minor injuries.
No one else was injured in the second crash.
In both incidents, everyone had been wearing their seat belts, and drugs or alcohol were not suspected to be involved.
Michael McFall