Motorcyclist Killed in Collision with Tour Bus near Utah-Arizona Border
A 45-year-old motorcyclist died Monday evening after a head-on collision with a commercial tour bus on U.S. Route 89, near Big Water, Utah.
The crash occurred at 5:40 p.m. at milepost 1, about half a mile south of the Lone Rock turnoff. State troopers closed the highway for several hours for emergency response and cleanup.
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, the motorcyclist was riding a Yamaha motorcycle northbound when he attempted a U-turn from the right shoulder. He failed to yield to the approaching Van Hool tour bus, which was carrying 29 passengers from the United Kingdom. The bus struck the motorcycle head-on.
Witnesses reported the impact ejected the motorcyclist into the southbound lane. Emergency responders arrived shortly thereafter, but he was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.
The collision also resulted in significant damage to the bus’s front driver’s side, though inspectors noted it remained potentially drivable. The bus driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, but all passengers were unharmed. Officials coordinated with tour operators to facilitate the passengers’ continued journey to Kanab that evening.
The accident caused substantial delays on U.S. Route 89, with authorities advising motorists to avoid the area or to yield to emergency vehicles. By late Monday night, Utah Highway Patrol began alternating traffic through a single lane to alleviate the backlog.
The identity of the deceased motorcyclist is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident.