High winds cause pileup, briefly halt flights in Utah

A man looks into the cab of a semitrailer at the scene of an accident on Interstate 80 west of Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Howling winds have halted flights at Salt Lake City's airport and toppled semitrailers on Interstate 80, causing authorities to close a 100-mile stretch of northern Utah's main east-west highway. (Scott G. Winterton/The Deseret News via AP) MAGAZINES OUT; SALT LAKE TRIBINE OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT A man looks into the cab of a semitrailer at the scene of an accident on Interstate 80 west of Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Howling winds have halted flights at Salt Lake City's airport and toppled semitrailers on Interstate 80, causing authorities to close a 100-mile stretch of northern Utah's main east-west highway. (Scott G. Winterton/The Deseret News via AP) MAGAZINES OUT; SALT LAKE TRIBINE OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT

By Associated Press April 14, 2015 1 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Howling winds have wreaked havoc across northern Utah, causing a major pileup on a busy highway and briefly halting flights at Salt Lake City’s airport.

Sgt. Todd Royce of the Utah Highway Patrol says the afternoon pileup caused one death and 25 injuries and closed a nearly 100-mile stretch of Interstate 80.

Eastbound lanes have reopened. But state Department of Transportation spokesman John Gleason says westbound lanes remain closed.

Meanwhile, flights have resumed at Salt Lake City International Airport after high winds caused officials to put air traffic on hold for about 30 minutes.

Airport spokeswoman Barbara Gann says 15 flights were diverted Tuesday afternoon but will now proceed to Salt Lake City.