This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A dust storm Friday in southern Utah caused crashes involving 13 vehicles on Interstate 15, forcing a two-hour closure of the freeway for nearly 30 miles.
The Utah Highway Patrol shut down I-15 from Beaver to Parowan about 4 p.m. as blowing dust compromised visibility, said Sgt. Todd Royce. At times, there was zero visibility on the freeway, UHP reported.
The storm caused two separate, simultaneous multi-vehicle crashes, according to a UHP news release. Six vehicles were involved in one crash; seven vehicles piled up in the other.
One person suffered a serious injury, while several others sustained minor injuries.
The freeway was reopened about 6:15 p.m., UHP reported.