LEEDS — No injuries were reported after a distracted driver rolled his SUV into the center median of Interstate 15 Thursday afternoon, compelling many motorists and truck drivers to stop and offer assistance.
Just before 5 p.m. emergency personnel responded to a reported rollover on Interstate 15 northbound, near exit 25 in Leeds, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jalaine Hawkes said.
Upon arrival officers found a silver Dodge Durango flipped on its side in the median of Interstate 15, near exit 25. Troopers determined the man was traveling northbound on Interstate 15, became distracted and veered to the left, partially off the roadway, Hawkes said.
The man lost control of the SUV as he attempted to recover the vehicle once he realized he was veering off the road. The SUV rolled over toward the median until finally coming to rest on its side near the center divider.
The occupants were outside of the vehicle when troopers responded.
“For a rollover that outcome is pretty good, where no one was injured,” Hawkes said.
Edwin Bennion, an eyewitness traveling behind the SUV in a semitractor-trailer, saw the accident happen. After the SUV stopped rolling Bennion pulled to the side of the freeway and called 911, he said.
Bennion was riding as a team with Ricky Perry, who then got out of the semi and went to the three occupants in the SUV to make sure they were okay, Bennion said.
Other motorists who observed the rollover also stopped to see if the occupants needed any help. Bennion said one motorist who stopped was a doctor who asked the men if anyone had any injuries.
Once emergency personnel arrived the truck driving team returned to the freeway and continued on, he said.
The SUV sustained extensive damage from the accident and was towed from the scene.
Utah Highway Patrol, Utah Department of Transportation’s Incident Management Team, and Leeds Area Fire and Rescue 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.
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Traffic on Interstate 15 after Rollover near exit 25, A second accident seen in the distance, on the SB side of Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Silver Dodge Durango in center median of Interstate 15 near exit 25, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016|Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Frontal damage to Silver Dodge Durango in center median of Interstate 15 near exit 25, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016|Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Silver Dodge Durango in center median of Interstate 15 near exit 25, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016|Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Utah Highway Patrol And Utah Department of Transportation's Incident Management Team responding to rollover on I-15, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016 |Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Traffic on Interstate 15 after Rollover near exit 25, A second accident seen in the distance, on the SB side of Interstate 15, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Silver Dodge Durango in center median of Interstate 15 near exit 25, Leeds, Utah, Mar. 24, 2016|Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News 
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