Fatal Crash After Plane Lands on I-15 Near Payson

A tragic incident unfolded Monday evening when a small plane made an emergency landing on Interstate 15 near Payson, resulting in a multi-vehicle crash that claimed one life and injured several others. The two people on board the plane, a pilot and a student pilot, were unharmed.

The plane, traveling from Las Vegas, was flying over the northbound lanes of I-15 when it suffered a mechanical failure and lost engine power around 8:15 p.m. The pilot and student pilot attempted to land on the highway, as they were unable to reach nearby airports in Spanish Fork and Nephi.

The landing was initially successful, with several vehicles stopping behind the plane. However, a Dodge pickup truck failed to stop in time and collided with four other vehicles, which were then pushed into the plane. This caused serious injuries to two people, who were rushed to the hospital, while two others sustained minor to moderate injuries.

One of the seriously injured, 58-year-old Valdecir De Oliveira from Santaquin, later died from his injuries, while another patient was reported to be stable. Traffic was diverted for about three hours while Utah Highway Patrol cleared the scene and removed the plane. The highway reopened just before 11:30 p.m.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the emergency landing, while UHP continues to look into the circumstances of the crash. There are no signs of impairment or distracted driving.

The plane remains at a warehouse for further inspection.