Driver blames wind gust after truck, new trailer jackknife

A black Toyota Tacoma pulling a 30-foot trailer jackknifed on I-15 southbound near mile marker 19 Thursday afternoon, Mohave County, Arizona, June 8, 2017 | Photo by Arizona Highway Patrol, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A driver returning to Arizona hauling a brand new trailer jackknifed and rolled on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge Wednesday.

A black Toyota Tacoma pulling a 30-foot trailer jackknifed on I-15 southbound near mile marker 19 Thursday afternoon, Mohave County, Arizona, June 8, 2017 | Photo by anonymous witnessl, St. George News

Shortly after 2 p.m. officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover on I-15 southbound near mile marker 19 that involved a black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck pulling a Nash 30-foot trailer.

Upon arrival responders found the Tacoma on its side in the middle of the roadway and the 30-foot trailer tipped halfway on top of the metal guardrail to the right on the interstate, Arizona Highway Patrol Trooper Stephen Hughes said.

The driver, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, was able to exit the truck on his own, the trooper said.

The man told troopers he was traveling south on the interstate nearing mile marker 19 when a gust of wind hit the trailer, causing it to sway back and forth before the truck flipped onto its side and the trailer jackknifed.

The man also told troopers he had just bought the trailer and was returning to his home in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The trailer was brand new, and the driver went all the way to Minnesota I believe to pick it up,” Hughes said. “(He) spent so much time and money to purchase it, haul it south, and then crashed.”

The No. 2 lane was blocked while responders tended to the scene, cleared debris, and towed the truck and trailer from the roadway. Traffic was initially blocked and then diverted to the No. 1 lane, which affected traffic flow for approximately one hour.

Arizona Highway Patrol and Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department and Ambulance responded and tended to the scene.

This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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8 Comments

  • paul June 8, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    For one that’s far from a 30 foot trailor 2 the old gust of wind trick prob not paying attention to the road and prob not enough experience

  • DRT June 9, 2017 at 8:11 am

    “The trailer was brand new, and the driver went all the way to Minnesota I believe to pick it up,” Hughes said. “(He) spent so much time and money to purchase it, haul it south, and then crashed.”
    But apparently he didn’t spend enough money to buy an anti-sway bar for it. I’ll never understand how people can justify spending thousands on a trailer, and something to pull it, and yet not spend a couple of hundred more to buy the necessary hardware to tow it safely.

  • ScanMeister June 9, 2017 at 8:14 am

    My thoughts too Paul! Does not look 30 ft. I cannot see if he was using a load distribution hitch….might be there. Tail wagging the dog perhaps. Lack of experience and the Gorge grabs another victim. Sad……almost made it home.

  • mmsandie June 9, 2017 at 8:52 am

    All comments were correct, too fast, not experienced, didn,t buy a sway bar,, how dumb??? Must have money though.. It would have been cheaper to have a carrier bring it to Phoenix…Insurance rates will climb …

  • hiker75 June 9, 2017 at 9:57 am

    What, you can’t drive a truck the same way you drive a truck pulling a trailer? Duh…

  • comments June 9, 2017 at 10:41 am

    might be 30 if measured to the end of the hitch. A sway bar and properly set up trailer brakes im sure would’ve help. Sounds like real bad luck tho.

    Isn’t there like a bazillion similar trailers sold thruout UT and AZ? why go all the way to minnisota?

  • cv_t-bird June 9, 2017 at 10:52 pm

    It looks like that trailer is a Northwood Nash 23B which is rated at about 5100lbs dry and probably closer to 26′ long tongue to bumper. That Tacoma if properly equipped could tow up to 6400lbs so he was probably right at his weight limit, but that truck is way too small for towing a trailer of that size. Even if you have the power to tow it, you have to remember to have the vehicle large enough to keep it under control. Also keep in mind that you should always tow considerably less than what your maximum limit is.

    • comments June 10, 2017 at 1:20 pm

      Great comment here. I think ur spot on. Anyways, is there something special about this trailer that would make it worth driving all the way across the country for, besides getting it dirt cheap maybe?

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