Debris is road risk

MURRAY — The rolls of chain-link fence bounce around in the back of the pickup as it speeds along I-15.

Cars quickly pass, with motorists trying to get away from the precariously positioned rolls of metal. A glance at the driver of the truck — he's oblivious.

Ladders, metal beams, chunks of tires, plastic buckets, shrubs and other debris are piling up on Utah's freeways. Not only is it a pain for freeway crews to clean up, it's proving dangerous for drivers to avoid.

"It looked like something out of 'Mad Max,' sparks going everywhere and cars dragging pieces of steel," said Jason Golly, who survived an eight-car pile-up caused by flying debris in November 2006.

Golly was southbound on I-15 near 9000 South when a truck in front of him lost a load of awnings and metal beams. The debris bounced, hitting his car as he ran over it.

"Sharp, long poles, hardware, steel, a lot of scary stuff," he said. "As I slowed to avoid the damage I knew was coming and praying that none of it would come through my windshield and kill me ... I was rear-ended."

Golly said he is still recovering from injuries he suffered in the accident and fighting with insurance companies over who is at fault.

"Everything was caused by the actions of one person who lost their load on I-15," he said.

The Utah Highway Patrol said 119 crashes were caused by debris in 2005. Last year, the Utah Department of Transportation said it picked up about 45,000 cubic yards of debris — enough to cover a football field about 40 feet deep.

Earlier this year, a Kaysville woman was impaled by an 8-foot metal rod that fell off a truck, bounced and went through her windshield. The rod went through her face and into the seat. Miraculously, she survived and is recovering.

The UHP and UDOT are now urging drivers to secure their loads — or face possible citations.

"Our emphasis is for the troopers, if they see an obvious situation of an unsecured load, to stop and take appropriate action," UHP Maj. Keith Squires said Tuesday.