Washington County and Provo crashes leave 4 dead, 2 injured

ST. GEORGE — Three women died in crashes in Washington County and a Provo man died after his truck rolled off a mountainside trail in Utah County on Wednesday.

A chain-reaction accident led to the first death about 12:25 p.m. on southbound I-15 just south of the Washington County-Iron County line, when two semitrailer trucks and several cars crashed on icy roads, according to Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cameron Roden.

No one was injured in the initial crash, but traffic was backed up about half a mile when a second wreck occurred near Black Ridge, killing Kristen Kay Taylor, 25, of Salt Lake County, Roden said.

Taylor was driving a Kia Spectra when she encountered a semitrailer that had crashed into five other vehicles that had stopped for the first wreck. A second semitrailer behind Taylor was not able to stop and collided with her car, crushing it under the first semitrailer, the trooper said.

Taylor died at the scene. An unidentified male passenger in her car suffered serious injuries to one of his arms, which may have to be amputated, Roden said.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper in St. George was responding to the I-15 crashes when his vehicle collided with a passenger car at 850 S. River Road about 12:50 p.m. Ila Jean Moore, 75, and her sister, 71-year-old Karen Gummow, were killed, said St. George Police Lt. James Van Fleet.

The vehicle the women were in was making a left turn into the parking lot of an LDS meetinghouse when the crash occurred. Van Fleet said a preliminary investigation shows the trooper was using his emergency lights and siren.

"Witnesses confirm that," the lieutenant said.

UHP Sgt. Jeff Nigbur said the trooper, Lars Gardner, who has been with UHP for three years, is "really shaken up by what's happened." The highway patrol has contacted a counselor to meet with the trooper and "get him talking," Nigbur said. Gardner was taken to a nearby hospital with neck injuries but was released later in good condition.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and families of this tragic event," Nigbur said in a press release. "The Utah Highway Patrol has met with family members and will continue to offer assistance. This was an unfortunate accident, and UHP will do everything in our power to support those who are suffering at this time."