Winter storm pounds valley; every freeway shutdown at one point

Troopers in Utah and Salt Lake counties responded to more than 200 traffic accidents because of today's powerful winter storm, including a pile-up in Payson involving 12 semi trucks and 30 cars.

Eighteen people were taken to Mountain View Hospital while another nine were taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center as a result of the 11:45 a.m. crash that still has 1-15 shut down in that area.

"It's still a big mess out there," said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden.

Several road closures remain in effect in Utah and neighboring states because the snow has made travel too treacherous.

Roden predicts the number of accidents will continue to climb as the afternoon commute gets under way but is hopeful "the plows can stay ahead it and hopefully people will slow down."

The powerful winter storm that pounded northern Utah is being blamed for temporarily shutting down the airport, causing power outages and numerous traffic accidents, including at least one fatality.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. The strong cold front was expected to produce heavy snow across most of northern Utah.

At least one traffic fatality was reported as of 1 p.m. A 34-year-old woman was killed in a one-car accident in Tooele County, Roden said. Slick conditions caused the woman's vehicle to roll into a wash where she was pronounced dead at the scene, Roden said.

Road closures include:

• State Route 12 between Panguitch and Tropic

• State Route 14 between Cedar City and Hatch

• State Route 18 between St. George and Enterprise

• State Route 40 between Currant Creek and Daniels Summit

• State Route 191 between Price and the Vernal area and the Colorado side as well

• Idaho's side of 1-84 remains closed

The storm swept across Utah accompanied by high winds, which created blizzard-like conditions.

"Every major freeway in the state at some point closed today," said Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Nile Easton.

He said I-215, I-15, I-80 and US-6 have all had some temporary closures due to either accidents or low visibility.