Semi loaded with bags of dry concrete mix tips over in Iron County

Written by Jeff Richards
August 21, 2024

IRON COUNTY — A semitractor-trailer tipped over on its side and crashed on state Route 20 on Tuesday afternoon.

A wrecked semitractor-trailer is tipped on its side next to a guardrail on SR-20, Iron County, Utah, Aug. 20, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Gary McInelly told Cedar City News at the scene that the semi driver was eastbound just past mile marker 10 on SR-20, when he lost control on a sharp downhill curve.

The driver told troopers he had been going too fast as he came around the turn, McInelly said.

The trailer was loaded with hundreds of heavy bags of dry concrete mix.

The driver, who reportedly sustained bumps and bruises, was evaluated by Garfield County EMS personnel at the scene but was not transported. He remained at the scene while Utah Highway Patrol troopers investigated and a tow truck operator out of Beaver began the logistic steps to offload the cargo and remove the wrecked vehicle from the scene, a process expected to take hours.

Traffic was only minimally impacted, as the vehicle and trailer ended up off to the side of the roadway, up against the guardrail.

The posted speed limit is 25 mph along that stretch, which is just past the summit at the halfway point of SR-20’s 20-mile distance between Interstate 15 and U.S. Route 89.

The crash happened in almost the same spot as a similar incident that occurred exactly two weeks earlier. As previously reported, the truck involved in the Aug. 6 crash was loaded with bottles of Coca-Cola Spiced.

This report is based on preliminary statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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