HOLDEN, Utah — A series of crashes involving a wrong-way driver on Interstate 15 near Holden left three people hospitalized late Wednesday evening.
The incident unfolded around 7:20 p.m. at mile marker 177, when reports began to surface of a Tesla driving recklessly in the northbound lanes of the interstate. The vehicle, according to Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) officials, eventually crossed into the southbound lanes, traveling in the wrong direction.
The Tesla first sideswiped a semi-truck before slamming head-on into an SUV. The collision caused the SUV to veer off the road and roll onto its side.
Three people were transported to the hospital, including the driver of the Tesla and two individuals in the SUV. Their conditions were not immediately released, though UHP Lieutenant Cameron Roden confirmed that the injuries were serious enough to require hospitalization.
Another semi-truck sustained damage after hitting debris from the crash, though the driver of that truck was unharmed.
As a result of the crashes, southbound traffic on I-15 was diverted at exit 178 onto a nearby frontage road. The roadway remained closed for several hours, and was not expected to reopen until after 11 p.m.
UHP officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. It remains unclear whether the Tesla was operating in self-driving mode or if impairment may have played a role in the incident. Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the condition of the driver of the Tesla.
The crash serves as a reminder of the dangers of impaired or distracted driving, and the ongoing need for caution on Utah’s highways.