UPDATE: Man killed in 5 vehicle crash in Virgin River Gorge identified

St. George resident, 39 year old Robby Joe Fritts died in the crash, Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said Tuesday.

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A wrong-way head-on collision Monday morning in the Virgin River Gorge near Cedar Pocket closed I-15 for several hours and killed one, injuring several others.

The crash occurred about 8:20am according to officials.  

According to Arizona Public Safety officials, the driver of a minivan was traveling south through the gorge going the wrong direction in the Northbound lanes, first side swiping several vehicles before crashing head-on into a full size pickup.

A 39 year old male from the St. George area driving the minivan was killed in the crash.  The driver was wearing a seatbelt, but the amount of damage to the front of the vehicle from the head-on collision caused significant injuries.

The man killed has not been identified due to notification of next of kin. Authorities arent sure why the driver was traveling the wrong- way but impairment is suspected.

Personnel and officers from the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department and the Mesquite Fire Department along with helicopters from Intermountain Life Flight and Mercy Air responded to the incident.