A fatality due to a wrong-way driver occurred nearby Beaver Dam early on Sunday morning.

The Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department reported a multiple-vehicle collision reported on Interstate 15 around mile marker 11 within Arizona, right by the Virgin River Gorge. It was discovered that a passenger sedan was driving northbound on the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a semi-tractor trailer.

First responders arrived on scene about 3:17 a.m. near the Desert Springs exit. The sole occupant of the sedan was dead on arrival, while the semitruck driver was injured and transported to the St. George Regional Hospital. The lanes were closed for investigation, with one lane reopening a little before 8 p.m.

BD/LFD Captain Larry Lydon reported upon initial investigation that the vehicle came off the frontage road through the fence around mile marker 8 and traveled until it impacted the semitruck at mile marker 11. He reported that a secondary crash occurred when a vehicle collided with the rear of the semitruck. No one was injured in that vehicle and medical transport was refused.

A social media post from a family member identified the deceased victim as a resident of Mesquite. However, the post was removed and it could not be validated since the investigation is still open and awaiting the coroner’s report.

Other responding agencies included Mesquite Fire and Rescue, The Mojave County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

More information will be reported as it becomes available.