OREM — The occupants of a vehicle endured a terrifying ride Friday afternoon after their car was bounced from one side of I-15 to another during a multi-vehicle accident.
What is more amazing, said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Chris Kramer, is that none of the people involved sustained life-threatening injuries — all attributed to the wearing of seat belts.
"Basically the only reason people didn't die in this is because people were wearing their seat belts," Kramer said.
Troopers say the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the Orem Center Street I-15 exit when a car heading north on I-15 made an improper lane change.
Kramer said the driver of a second vehicle swerved to avoid the collision, sending that car off the road, through the median and into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with a van.
"The car continues, spinning out of control, and hits a semi," Kramer said. "The semi then knocks the car back into the north lanes."
Troopers said a total of nine vehicles, counting the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, were involved. The first vehicle came out of the incident undamaged, Kramer said, but the driver was cited for improper lane change.
The accident prompted multiple lanes on I-15 to be shut down for about an hour. Some drivers and passengers were taken to nearby hospitals to be treated for minor injuries.