New video shared with 2News shows the catalyst for an issue that was plaguing drivers traveling northbound on I-15 from Utah to Salt Lake county all day Thursday.
Jesse Kelley, a trucker who was driving through Draper just as the crash happened, shared video from his truck's dashboard camera. It was rolling when a tanker plowed into a disabled vehicle that had crashed in the right lane of I-15 late Wednesday night, spilling crude oil across the interstate and forcing the closure of all northbound lanes for nearly 12 hours.
"The only two options I have are slam on my brakes or go hard left and thank god nobody was there," said Kelley.
He said it was clear the tanker driver was simply driving too fast for conditions, and the incident can be a lesson for all drivers.
"It’s just slowing down and just looking at the car in front of you," said Kelley. "What if? What if this happens? Where's my way out? What's my exit?
Residual traffic issues continued into the morning and through the commute. Even after a partial reopening of lanes, the residual problems continued well into the evening on Thursday.
The crash itself warranted a hazmat cleanup, which kept the interstate closed all night and well into the morning drive. A trip from Murray to Lehi was taking close to an hour and a half in the early hours, and commuters who were apparently unware of the disastrous conditions could be seen on UDOT cameras turning around on a highway onramp and driving against traffic after seeing the thousands of vehicles static on the interstate.
Troopers responded to several crashes throughout the morning associated with drivers trying to leave I-15 by driving in the wrong direction, and UHP later issued a statement reminding drivers that proceeding the wrong way on an onramp is not permitted.
It all began around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at a stretch of I-15 in Draper where the road straightens out after an incline and a bend around the Point of the Mountain.
John Gleason, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Transportation, said a total of six vehicles were involved in the Draper incident, where drivers lost control of their trucks and cars on a slick section of the interstate. Thankfully, no major injuries have been reported.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden said an Amazon semi-truck traveling north jackknifed at mile post 288 and was blocking the highway's right lanes. A passenger vehicle approaching the wreck moved into the left lanes to avoid the semi when a pickup truck that was "traveling at a significantly higher speed" crashed into the back of the passenger car.
A second semi-truck was approaching, which Roden said was traveling too fast for the slick road conditions. The truck, hauling two tankers of crude oil, lost control and ended up sliding into the back of the Amazon semi. In the collision, the second semi's rear tanker overturned and detached, coming to rest in the middle lanes.
"The tank was compromised and approximately 1,500 gallons of crude oil spilled onto I-15 northbound," Roden said.
An SUV then approached, where it hit debris from the previous collisions, and became disabled on the highway.
Crews closed I-15 at 14600 South, and traffic was being diverted off the highway, onto a frontage road and to Bangerter Highway.
Crews were at the scene all night working to clean up the spill, and UDOT cameras showed workers were still at the site after most commuters had already arrived at work. Plows and loaders were being used to muck out the highway, and at 10 a.m., it appeared crews had at least two lanes relatively cleared, though it wasn't immediately known if further action needed to be taken to address any issues caused by the crude oil.
An exact time for partial reopening couldn't be pinned down as the situation was very "fluid," as UHP put it.
UDOT originally estimated lanes could start reopening at 7 a.m., though the department's incident website placed the reopening estimates closer to 8:30 a.m. at the time.
At 7 a.m., though, the traffic website pushed that number closer to 11:30 a.m.
The Utah Highway Patrol issued an incident notification advising drivers of the delays at Point of the Mountain, where traffic was beginning to back up into Utah County.
Three lanes reopened just before 11 a.m., and traffic could be seen on UDOT's cameras moving past piles of sludge left over from an overnight oil spill, which crews were still working to remove.
It was clear from the amount of gunk still left on the roadway that the project could easily extend into the afternoon hours.
Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Tara Wahlberg issued a statement Thursday morning asking drivers to avoid the are between Lehi and Draper throughout the day, advising people to avoid the drive between Utah County and Salt Lake County altogether if possible.
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"If you do have to travel through this area, please be patient and realize that it may take you about 3 hours," according to the statement.
She also addressed the barrage of vehicles seen traveling into the deadlock and then reversing course down the wrong way of I-15 onramps, as well as other drivers who feel the urge to leave their cars to take a look around.
"If you go in this area and decide you don't want to wait, absolutely no wrong way use of the off ramps will be permitted," Wahlberg stated. "Do not park your vehicle in the shoulders or abandon them. The shoulders are for emergency use only and you could prevent first responders going to an emergency."
She advised drivers to make sure they have plenty of fuel and any emergency items they may need.
"We are working hard with Utah DOT to get this area cleaned up and travel back to normal," Wahlberg stated. "Please be patient."
Lanes were fully re-opened before 5 p.m.