Black ice lands SUV on the edge of a barrier, ravine in Utah
Published at | Updated atPARLEY’S CANYON, Utah — Even on a sunny New Year’s Day, windy conditions and blowing snow created black ice and a very scary situation for one driver in Parley’s Canyon.
Trooper Cody Roberts said Friday a SUV was traveling westbound in the inside lane just beyond the Lamb’s Canyon exit, when he slowed down and hit black ice, causing him to drift across I-80 and hit the outside barrier.
Roberts said the SUV then slid on top of the barrier for about 50 feet, ultimately ending up balancing on top of it, instead of sliding or rolling down the ravine on the other side of the barrier.
“That’s a steep ravine – the driver was extremely lucky today,” Roberts said. “I believe wearing his seatbelt truly saved his life, because he could have easily been ejected.”
Investigators said speed and the conditions also contributed to another crash along the same stretch of freeway Friday.
Roberts said a driver in a pickup truck was likely traveling too fast for the conditions, struck the inside barrier and broke the axle to his vehicle.
“You’re good for at least one or two a day – just drivers underestimate the roads and end up going too fast,” Roberts said. “It’s going to start coming in patches, so please slow down, give yourself some extra brake room and be courteous to other drivers.”
Photos courtesy Andrew Adams/KSL-TV.
This article was originally published on KSL.com
