APPLE VALLEY — Passing one semitrailer on a two-lane highway can be dangerous enough, but tourists from New York learned the hard way Wednesday morning that passing two at once can be potentially deadly, as their van sideswiped a semitrailer as they were trying to get back into their own lane near Apple Valley.
At about 8:45 a.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was called to state Route 59. When the deputy arrived, he found a slightly damaged semitrailer and a van with a caved-in side sitting on the westbound shoulder at about milepost 16. The van had tried to pass two semitrailers at once, Chief Deputy Shauna Jones said.
The van passed the first semitrailer, and as the driver began to pass the second semitrailer, a truck appeared over the approaching hill. The van driver saw he wasn’t going to make it, Jones said, and began to pull back into the right lane, but he overcorrected and collided with the rear fender of the second semitrailer.
The right side of the van was moderately damage in the collision.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and both vehicles navigated safely to the side of the road.
The deputy issued a citation to the van driver for unsafe passing, while state troopers cited the semitrailer driver for various commercial violations, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Grant Hintze said.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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I’ve never tried passing 2 semis on a two lane highway, I always thought I wouldn’t make it.
I drive miles and miles of two lane roads ( this one included) from southern Utah to New Mexico often. I see all sorts of crazy passing. I can’t believe people really do it.
I pass many times during the LONG two lane trip but I try to be very careful and even then I have had some close calls. Passing someone in front of you is not worth getting killed because of it.
Eh, they’re New Yorkers. Obviously, clueless.