Upcoming Event: Soccer versus LSU on September 7, 2025 at 1 p.m.
1 p.m.
Soccer
vs LSU
Utah Track Team in Bus Accident
Utah Track Team in Bus Accident
 | |
April 10, 1999
SALT LAKE CITY - A bus transporting the University of Utah track team to the Bob Gibb Invitational at Boise State University was involved in a massive pile-up Friday approximately 20 miles east of Burely, Idaho, on a snow-packed Interstate 84. None of the members of the Utah travel party were seriously injured.
The accident, which occurred at 10:45 a.m., involved three semi trucks and several cars. Road conditions were poor at the time with whiteout conditions.
According to U. of U. assistant track coach Phillip Banks, who was one of the nine people taken to the hospital, a pile-up had formed in the northbound lane approximately one-half mile down the highway. A semi-truck traveling in front of the Utah team bus had stopped because of the wreck, but due to poor visibility the bus was unable to stop in time to avoid the crash. The driver was able to steer the bus toward the left lane to avoid hitting the back of the semi-truck directly head-on. The right side of the bus took the brunt of the hit.
Head track coach Mike Jones was able to notify university officials with his cell phone. Jones said he had just left his seat at the front of right side of the bus minutes before the accident, adding that the seat was demolished in the accident.
Five U. of U. student-athletes, two assistant coaches, a trainer and the bus driver were taken by ambulance to a Burley hospital. Three student-athletes suffered bone fractures. The bus driver suffered a broken leg. The remaining Utah team members taken to the hospital were treated for abrasions and some received stitches.
"The windows in the front of the bus were all smashed," said Banks by phone from the hospital. "The broken windows were covered with blankets. Everyone just huddled together in the back of the bus and tried to stay warm."
Uninjured team members and staff were forced to stay onboard the bus most of the day because the Idaho State Police had closed part of Interstate 84. Late Friday afternoon, they were taken to a tuck stop near Burley. A charter bus then took them to a National Guard armory outside of Burley, where they will be reunited with their team members released from the hospital. The team will either spend the night at the National Guard armory or an area hotel. The team is expected to return to Salt Lake City on Saturday.
"This is an unfortunate incident, but we are very thankful that no one was seriously injured," said U. Athletics Director Dr. Chris Hill. "Our athletics department staff and other university officials are making every effort to get the team to a place where they can spend the night. We will then do everything we can to get them home as soon as we can when the weather conditions allow for safe travel."