3 transported to hospital after semi driver falls asleep on I-15

Three people were transported to the hospital after the driver of a semitractor-trailer fell asleep while traveling on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 115, Beaver County, Utah, Nov. 14, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

BEAVER COUNTY – Three people were transported to the hospital early Saturday morning after the driver of a semitractor-trailer drifted off to sleep on Interstate 15, causing the semi to drift out of its lane of travel before ultimately rolling on the freeway when the driver awoke and overcorrected.

Three people were transported to the hospital after the driver of a semitrailer fell asleep while traveling on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 115, Beaver County, Utah | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News
Three people were transported to the hospital after the driver of a semitractor-trailer fell asleep while traveling on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 115, Beaver County, Utah, Nov. 14, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

Around 6 a.m. Saturday, the driver of the semi was traveling north on I-15 near milepost 115, approximately 6 miles north of Beaver, when the driver fell asleep and drifted to the left, according to a media statement issued by the Utah Highway Patrol.

The driver woke up and overcorrected which caused the semitrailer to roll onto the driver’s side, coming to rest on the Interstate and blocking both lanes of traffic.

Behind the semi, the driver of a silver passenger car, heading in the same direction, could not see the semi blocking the lanes until it was too late, the statement said. The driver of the silver car smashed into the bottom of the semi.

The driver of the semi, the passenger of the semi, and the driver of the passenger car were all transported to Beaver Valley Hospital with minor injuries, according to UHP. They were released a short-time later.

It took several hours for the semitrailer to be tipped up and removed from the Interstate.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement responding to the scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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1 Comment

  • wilbur November 17, 2015 at 9:02 am

    These accidents are going to be a real mess at 80+ MPH.

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