Crash on SR-9 allegedly caused by sleepy driver

This photo shows the aftermath of a collision that occurred when a driver allegely fell asleep at the wheel, causing a two-car collision on state Route 9 Saturday morning. Hurricane, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

HURRICANE — A driver fell asleep while driving on state Route 9 Saturday morning, allegedly causing a two-car collision that slowed traffic on the road for over 30 minutes.

A driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a two-car collision on SR-9 Saturday morning. Hurricane, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
This photo shows the aftermath of a collision that occurred when a driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel of a Jeep Grand Cherokee ultimately crashing into a Toyota Tundra on state Route 9 Saturday morning. Hurricane, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

“Officers were dispatched to an accident (about 8:25 a.m.) involving two vehicles at (SR-9 and) 5300 West Street,” Hurricane City Police Public Information Officer Tiffany Mower said. “Officers found that a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling east on SR-9 … the driver fell asleep, left the roadway on the right side into the dirt, overcorrected and came back to the road … and collided with a 2015 Toyota Tundra.”

The Toyota Tundra was in the westbound left turn lane waiting to turn south on 5300 West, toward the fairgrounds. The Jeep struck the Toyota behind the driver’s side door.

Both vehicles were disabled and had to be towed away. Both drivers and a boy in the Toyota Tundra were all uninjured and refused medical attention.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee was cited for careless driving. All occupants were wearing seat belts.

Units from the Hurricane City Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Utah Highway Patrol, Hurricane Valley Fire District and rangers from Utah State Parks responded to the scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews | @NewsWayman

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.