ST. GEORGE — Access to northbound Interstate 15 from the St. George Boulevard/Exit 8 interchange was partially blocked for two hours Monday evening due to a trailer carrying a boom lift overturning and dropping the machine in the middle of the roadway.
The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. when a dump truck pulling the trailer with the boom lift entered the I-15 northbound on-ramp from eastbound St. George Boulevard. At this point, authorities say, the driver lost control of the load they were pulling, resulting in its spilling across the eastbound entry to the highway on-ramp.
“The driver was taking the curve too fast,” Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Lewis told St. George News. Lewis was one of the UHP troopers who responded to the crash along with a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy.
The dump truck pulling the load did not overturn with the trailer nor were any other vehicles damaged or individuals harmed in the incident, the trooper said.
Lewis and the other responding law enforcement officers proceeded to block eastbound access to the on-ramp as they waited for tow trucks and a heavy wrecker (a larger tow truck used to pull semis and other large vehicles and equipment) to arrive and eventually clear the roadway.
The crash disrupted eastbound traffic on St. George Boulevard, causing it to slow and back up until around 7 p.m. when the after-work rush died down.
Access to northbound I-15 from the westbound side of the interchange (from River Road) was initially blocked as responders assessed the scene. It then reopened to traffic as eastbound access remained closed.
A tow truck arrived by 6:40 p.m. to turn the flatbed trailer used to carry the boom lift back onto its wheels. The trailer was then pulled over to the side of the road. A heavy wrecker arrived soon after to help upright the boom lift.
The boom lift was eventually removed from the on-ramp’s eastbound entry with access for motorists being restored by 8 p.m.
The dump truck’s driver was cited for the incident, Lewis said.
Photo Gallery
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Access to northbound I-15 off the St. George/Exit 8 interchange was temporarily blocked due to an trailer carrying a boom lift overturned in the on-ramp's entry, St. George, Utah, June 26, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
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