CEDAR CITY — A semitractor-trailer transporting telephone poles rolled onto its side Thursday afternoon on Minersville Highway.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Ryan Bauer told Cedar City News the truck was making a left turn onto 2400 North from Minersville Highway near Interstate 15 Exit 62.
“What we know now is he was just making a turn to come onto this street from the center lane, and the load shifts, the weight starts to shift, and it pulled him over,” Bauer said.
Bauer said the weight of the telephone poles shifting to one side is likely what caused the truck to roll onto its side.
“Sometimes if the speed or the sharpness of the corner causes the weight to shift too much, it just shifts that weight all to one side and it can tip them right over,” Bauer said.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers, Cedar City Police officers, Iron County Sheriff’s deputies and Cedar City firefighters responded to the scene.
Cedar City Fire Chief Mike Phillips told Cedar City News firefighters were helping clean up fluids that were leaking from the truck to help keep other vehicles safe.
“It’s motor oil, diesel fuel and antifreeze that’s leaking out of the truck,” Phillips said. “These damns we built to slow the flow from coming down. Then we’ll put a bunch of kitty litter down, sweep it all up and then the tow company takes it away.”
No injuries were reported and officials expect to have the scene cleared within a few hours.
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A semi carrying telephone poles rolled onto its side near 2400 North and Minersville Highway, as seen from the intersection of Minersville Highway and 3000 North, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Fluids can be seen leaking from a semi-truck after it rolled onto its side while making a left turn, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Firefighters work to stop the flow of fluids from a truck after it rolled onto its side, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Fluids can be seen leaking from a semi-truck after it rolled onto its side while making a left turn, in addition to dams made to stop the flow of the fluids by firefighters, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Telephone poles fell off the truck carrying them when it rolled onto its side while making a left turn, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
A semi carrying telephone poles rolled onto its side near 2400 North and Minersville Highway, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Tow trucks prepare to pull a tipped semi-truck back to its correct position after it rolled onto its side Thursday afternoon, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
Fluids can be seen leaking from a semi-truck after it rolled onto its side while making a left turn, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 13, 2020 | Photo by Kelsey Cooke, St George News / Cedar City News
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Kelsey was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and then attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and an associate degree in equine studies. Kelsey served as a copy editor for the SUU Journal for one year and as the senior reporter for the Iron County Today before joining Cedar City News. She enjoys helping out with her family’s ranch in Hatch, petting every dog within reach and all things zebra-striped. When she’s not writing articles, Kelsey can be found spending time with her family or curled up with a good book and her Norwich terrier mix, Scout.