BOX ELDER COUNTY - By Ellen Cook, Headliner Media Specialist, December 12, 2022
A busload of passengers headed to Salt Lake City early Monday morning, December 12, via I-84 took an unexpected and scary detour when slick and slushy roads resulted in a rollover about five miles west of Tremonton.
According to Sgt Brian Nelson with Utah Highway Patrol, the accident occurred about 4:30 a.m. The busdriver said he attempted to change lanes about MM 35, when the bus slid on the wet road, rolling off the righthand side of the freeway.
The Salt Lake Express bus was carrying 33 passengers, and is not equipped with seatbelts except for the driver, Nelson said. At least 22 of those onboard suffering some level of injury as the bus rolled, with four listed as being in critical condition. EMS and ambulances from Tremonton, Garland, Brigham City, and Fielding responded to the scene and it required eight ambulances making multiple trips to transport all patients to Bear River Valley Hospital, Brigham City Community Hospital and MacKay Dee Hospital in Ogden.
Nelson said he was impressed with the efficiency and professionalism of emergency responders who assisted on the crash.
"With multiple agencies helping, they did a fantastic job and worked great together assessing injuries and loading patients," he said.
Nelson also noted that the Box Elder School District offered a school bus to pick up those who were not injured and transported them to the Garland Armory. Four of those passengers were later taken by ambulances to area hospitals for further evaluation.
Those who would like to offer aid in some way can bring blankets, pillows, water or snacks to the north side of the Garland armory to help keep those remaining passengers comfortable while waiting to be picked up.
