The holiday weekend brought about a few traffic problems for travelers on Interstate 15, but they were minimal compared to the last four months.

Traffic was heavily affected on the way to Saint George on Sunday evening when a 90-plus-year-old female wrong-way driver in a Cadillac collided with a Toyota Highlander head-on, leaving three dead, including the driver. The incident happened at approximately 6:15 p.m. near mile marker 4, the Bloomington exit near the city limits on the northbound lanes. The driver and one passenger in the Toyota were in their 70s. Two other female passengers of the Toyota, in their late teens to early twenties, were transported to St. George Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident affected travel for all throughout the Virgin River Gorge and past to Beaver Dam and Mesquite areas. All traffic was rerouted off at exit 4 and then back on at exits 6 and 8 within St. George. The Utah Highway Patrol is currently investigating but fully reopened the interstate at approximately 10:57 p.m.

Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department was busy this last week with a couple of emergency calls reported to within or near the Virgin River Gorge. Their first response was to a vehicle fire on Aug. 27 at approximately 7:30 p.m. The location was on Old Highway 91 near mile marker 13.

“The vehicle was fully engulfed, but the fire was rapidly brought under control,” BD/LFD Chief Jeff Hunt said.

Hunt said there was one thing missing at the scene, the driver. There was no evidence found of anyone nearby, and the car was deemed to be vacated. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation of the incident.

On Aug. 29, they again reported another emergency involving a single- vehicle collision with a metal guardrail within the Virgin River Gorge at mile marker 14 within the southbound lanes of I-15. First responders arrived on scene, finding the van on top of the guardrail with a solo occupant outside of the vehicle. The occupant declined medical transport. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident.

Another incident occurred last Thursday at approximately mile marker 103-104 when a dark charter van lost control and overcorrected, rolling and landing within the median of the vehicle. Multiple persons were examined by medical personnel, but all injuries were minor and non-life-threatening. Traffic was minimally affected as the vehicle came to rest off the roadways. Due to the holiday weekend, the Nevada State Police has not provided updates.

Mesquite Fire and Rescue reported a motor vehicle accident on I-15 within city limits on Saturday, but no injuries were reported and traffic was not affected. Mesquite Police reported that a huge number of their calls dealt with persons driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The department sent reminders that if you are drinking, they ask that you please do not drive or find a sober designated driver.

Beaver Dam was proud to report that their Type 1 Tactical Tender Unit are on duty at the Garnet Fire in California. Firefighters Larry Lydon and Easton Knudsen are hard at work.

Moapa Valley Fire District also released the official date of their annual 9/11 Memorial Walk, which will take place on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the MVFD Station 74 in Overton. There will be a “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive on the same day from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Overton Community Center. Donors get to cast their vote for the firefighters or police to win the battle.