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Utah snowstorm causes 100-plus accidents

Wind-driven snow that blanketed parts of Utah on Thursday caused more than 100 accidents on interstates and local roads.
/ Source: The Associated Press

Wind-driven snow that blanketed the Wasatch Front and southern Utah on Thursday caused more than 100 accidents on interstates and local roads.

The Utah Highway Patrol was swamped with calls during the morning commute. There was a 16 car pile-up southbound on Interstate 15 in Weber County and a 20-car accident in Salt Lake City, authorities said.

Most of the accidents involved cars going off the road or fender-benders, and no serious injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a winter storm warning for much of southern and central Utah through Friday afternoon. Areas above 5,500 feet were expected to get 5 to 8 inches of snow. Lower elevations were expected to get 3 inches or less.

Only a few inches fell across the Wasatch Front, but it came down as the morning commute was getting started, according to Mike Seaman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

By late morning, the Salt Lake City police reported 34 traffic accidents, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office reported 26 accidents and the Utah Highway Patrol reported 84 accidents in Salt Lake County.