PAYSON — Four people were injured, and northbound I-15 is closed in Payson, after a small plane made an emergency landing on Monday evening, leading to a chain-reaction crash with cars on the freeway.
Four people inside the cars involved in the crash were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to severe, the Utah Highway Patrol said. One person was in “extremely critical” condition, one was in critical condition, one had injuries described as moderate to serious, and one suffered minor injuries.
After the plane made an emergency landing on I-15 about 8:11 p.m., one car hit the plane, and at least four other cars then crashed as well.
No one in the plane was injured.
The closure is in effect in the area of 800 South as of about 9:30 p.m., the Utah Department of Transportation reported. It is expected to remain closed for three to four hours.
Traffic is being detoured through Payson and can reenter the freeway from Payson Main Street or state Route 164. Northbound traffic can also exit at Santaquin Main Street (Exit 244) and proceed along state Route 198 through Spring Lake and Payson, the Utah Highway Patrol said.
Photos shared from the scene show the plane landed parallel to the freeway median without any visible damage.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
