Emergency responders use Jaws of Life after two vehicle accident on Utah/Arizona border

Shortly before 7 p.m. (MDT) on Thursday, March 16, emergency responders were dispatched to milepost 613 on North Hwy 89A to a two-vehicle crash involving a Mazda 3 car and Dodge 2500 truck.

Traffic was slowed on HWY 89A as responders rescued a trapped driver. Photos by Daisy Johnson.

Just south of the Utah/Arizona border, the southbound Mazda appeared to be almost stopped behind another vehicle on the highway. The Dodge, also driving towards Fredonia, was unable to stop before crashing into the rear of the Mazda.

The two male occupants of the Dodge were unharmed. However, emergency responders were required to use the Jaws of Life to remove the roof of the Mazda before they were able to extricate the male driver, and sole occupant, of the car.

Traffic was stopped in both directions while rescuers tended to the injured driver of the car, and Intermountain Life Flight was called in. Life Flight first attempted to land on the highway near the accident, but the parking lot of the once Juniper Ridge Restaurant was determined to be a better location. The driver was transported by ambulance the short distance to the parking lot, transferred to the helicopter, then flown to St. George, Utah.

Thank you to Kanab EMTs, Kanab Police Department, Fredonia Fire Department, Fredonia Police Department, Arizona DPS and the Life Flight crew for their speedy response to the scene; and to Ramsay Towing for cleanup.

This accident is still under investigation.