An 18-year-old Utah woman is alive after being impaled Monday by flying rebar while riding in a car southwest of the Wyoming border, Utah Highway Patrol confirmed to Cowboy State Daily.
Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) said in a statement that the woman was in the front passenger seat of a Toyota Corolla traveling northbound on State Road 189. That road connects Provo, Utah, to Jackson, Wyoming.
A “concrete form stake” struck the hood of her vehicle and went through the windshield, impaling the woman in the chest, the UHP reports.
A Life Flight helicopter responded to the scene, but the woman was ultimately transported to a nearby hospital by ground in serious condition.
UHP spokesman Lt. Cameron Roden told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that the woman was alive and in serious condition as of Monday night. She remains at a hospital in the Provo area.
Ongoing Investigation
Roden said investigators do not yet know where the rebar came from as they search for information. He called the public who may have recorded the incident on dash cameras to contact UHP.
“That will help us and our investigators learn and investigate this crime more fully for the young lady that was involved,” Roden said.
Drivers, Roden added, should take care to secure large loads when driving with them on the highway to avoid potentially impacting other drivers on the road. Over securing a load, he said, is better than under securing it.
“Never take for granted that something could fall out of your car and end up on the roadway and cause a crash,” Roden said.
Semitrucks are liable for any cargo they lose while driving on highways and are usually very careful about securing their loads, Roden said.
Other commercial vehicles, such as those used in construction, should also be aware that their cargo can cause dangerous crashes as well.
Crashes caused by debris on highways are a constant concern for Utah state troopers, Roden said. He encouraged drivers to be alert for debris on the roads and to watch for troopers who are working to remove these hazards.
“We had a trooper hit last year that had stopped on the shoulder of the roadway to remove some debris,” he said. “[The driver] spotted that debris too late and ended up having to swerve to miss it and ended up hitting our trooper.”
“Be mindful, watch for our troopers,” Roden said. “Just know whenever you see those flashing lights that there’s something going on in that area.”
Stay Vigilant
Wyoming Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Aaron Brown told Cowboy State Daily he spoke with a state trooper, a captain and representatives from the state port of entry along the Utah border about Monday’s accident.
He said the incident is a reminder for all drivers to remain vigilant on the highway.
“Our highways require a partnership between civilian travelers, private and commercial carriers and construction crews to prevent accidents of all kinds, not just like that rebar,” he said.
Properly securing a load, Brown explained, is highly critical for safe highway travel but is a “question with a million answers” due to the specifics of each different load being carried.
Commercial and private carriers, he added, should make sure to use plenty of straps and chains to prevent loose objects from causing an accident.
Wyoming’s ports of entry, Brown said, are always willing to help check a large load and provide assistance in securing it.
“It’s not an inspection, but they can help make sure your loads are good to go,” Brown said.
While construction crews are charged with making sure their debris does not end up in the roadway, Brown added this also requires a “team effort” with drivers who must give extra space to construction crews and mind construction zone speed limits.
“Impacting something or kicking up something is going to be far less impactful at 40 mph than it is at 90,” he said. “Be vigilant and follow the posted speed limits.”
Above all, drivers should take care to always follow the rules of the road, Brown said.
“That’s going to be universal whether it’s a mountain highway or I-25,” he said.
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.
