Semi tipover crash prompts 2-hour closure of northbound I-15 near Parowan

Scene of a tipover crash involving a semitractor-trailer on northbound Interstate 15, Parowan, Utah, Feb. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

PAROWAN — A semitractor-trailer tipped over in a crash on Interstate 15 Thursday morning, causing northbound traffic to be diverted for approximately two hours.

Scene of a tipover crash involving a semitractor-trailer on northbound Interstate 15, Parowan, Utah, Feb. 17, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Bambi Baie said the incident occurred at 6:18 a.m. just north of Exit 78 at the northern end of Parowan.

Baie said the driver fell asleep, causing him to miss a slight curve in the road. 

“He didn’t make that curve,” Baie said. “He just drifted off to the left and then overcorrected.” 

The truck, along with its attached trailer, came to rest on its side blocking both lanes of northbound I-15.

The driver and his co-driver, who had been sleeping in the truck’s sleeper berth, both were able to safely climb out on their own, Baie said.

“If they had any injuries, they were super minor,” she added. “They were OK and walking around.”

Baie said northbound traffic was diverted off the interstate at Exit 78 and rerouted through Paragonah and back onto I-15 at Exit 82.

“We had traffic diverted for about two hours,” Baie said. “One lane was cleared out just to get the cars that were stuck behind it out of there, but we had to get the semi truck moved before we could open up the freeway.”

Shortly after 11 a.m., with the truck and trailer having been moved safely to the right shoulder, tow truck workers were preparing to offload the cargo from the trailer, which was loaded with large boxes containing new barbecue grills.

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