A man caught in slowing traffic near the scene of multiple earlier accidents died Tuesday when he own vehicle slammed into the rear of a semi-trailer rig 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.
That stretch of freeway, always congested during the height of the morning commute, was affected even more by a trooper having made a traffic stop in the right side of the road. Traffic approaching the area slowed suddenly, resulting in two other rear-end crashes before the fatal collision occurred.
Royce said the force of the last crash crushed the car, which was wedged underneath the big rig. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Distracted driving, along with following too close, were being investigated as factors in the crash, he said.
UHP closed four of the six lanes at the scene. Full traffic flow was not expected until around noon.
The identity of the deceased was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Tribune will update this story when more information is available.