A man caught in slowing traffic near the scene of multiple earlier accidents died Tuesday when his own vehicle slammed into the rear of a flatbed truck on Interstate 15 in American Fork.
UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said the fatality, initially reported by troopers as a possible auto-pedestrian accident, occurred at 7:52 a.m. near mile post 276, in the right two lanes of northbound I-15.
Traffic on that stretch of freeway, always congested during the height of the morning commute, was affected even more as troopers were on the scene to assist motorists in several other rear-end crashes that occurred shortly before the fatal collision occurred.
Royce said the force of the last crash crushed the car, which was wedged underneath the truck. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Distracted driving, perhaps related to seeing the accident scenes, along with following too close were being investigated as factors in the crash. The driver apparently swerved to avoid one vehicle, only to slam into the back of the truck.
UHP did not immediately identify the deceased, but the Vista Heights Middle School Facebook page said he was a teacher at the Saratoga Springs campus, Dylan Thorton.
“We are deeply saddened by the news and our hearts and prayers are with his family and the school community,” the site stated.
The accident closed four of the six lanes at the scene for several hours.
