Semitractor’s rear trailer breaks loose, slams into minivan

ST. GEORGE — A woman waiting at a traffic light was injured when the rear trailer of a turning semitractor-double-trailer broke loose, smashing into her minivan Monday evening.

Police investigate after a semitractor-double-trailer’s rear trailer came loose and smashed into a minivan, injuring its driver, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

At approximately 6:02 p.m., units from St. George Police were dispatched to the intersection of East River Road and Horseman Park Drive on a report of a crash.

The male driver of the semi was northbound on East River Road when it made a right turn onto Horseman Park Drive.

As he made the turn, the semi’s rear trailer slid off into a black Honda Odyssey, whose driver had been waiting to make a left turn in the next lane, St. George Police Officer Mike McRae said.

See video in the media player top of this report.

The driver of the minivan, an adult woman, was injured and transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center for treatment. The extent of her injuries was unknown at the time this report was taken.

“There were multiple witnesses, and nobody said that he came across like he was exceeding the speed limit, didn’t really do anything wrong,” McRae said of the semi driver. “Just kind of a strange occurrence that the rear trailer broke loose, and that’s actually what hit the minivan.”

A semitractor-double-trailer’s rear trailer came loose and smashed into a minivan, injuring its driver, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

No citation was issued.

The Honda sustained heavy damage to its driver’s side. All of the minivan’s protective side airbags deployed on the driver’s side. It was inoperable and towed away.

The semi appeared undamaged, and how its trailer came loose is unknown.

Traffic was blocked in the left turn lanes from Horseman Park Drive onto East River Road, but traffic was otherwise unaffected.

Emergency and medical personnel from Gold Cross Ambulance and St. George Fire also responded to the incident.

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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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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6 Comments

  • Who January 31, 2017 at 7:39 am

    It wasn’t a rear trailer. It’s a heavy equipment trailer with a rear stinger that came off the ground due to the way the city built the road. Notice it said no citation was issued.

    • comments January 31, 2017 at 6:11 pm

      Can u explain how it came off?

      • .... February 1, 2017 at 9:30 am

        Just think Bob this is your lucky day another conspiracy theory for you !

    • Lastdays February 1, 2017 at 10:25 am

      Yea, it couldn’t possibly be driver error. It’s always the governments fault.

  • indy-vfr January 31, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    Looks like a tagaxle?

  • Who January 31, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Stinger

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