CEDAR CITY — A driver was airlifted to the hospital after being seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover west of Cedar City on Tuesday morning.
Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Randy Riches said that at approximately 7:12 a.m., the driver of a 2012 Ford Fusion sedan was traveling westbound on state Route 56 near mile marker 49.
“For an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and went off the road down about a 25-foot bank and impacted the side of the embankment,” Riches said. “The single male driver of the vehicle, the only occupant, was trapped inside his vehicle until he could be extricated by fire personnel.”
Riches said the man, who he described as being in his 50s, sustained “significant” injuries, although they were not believed to be life-threatening.
Riches said traffic along SR-56 was shut down in both directions for approximately 30 minutes while an Intermountain Life Flight helicopter responded to the scene. The injured man was flown to St. George Regional Hospital for treatment, Riches said.
“We don’t know for sure, but we believe that fatigue may have played a factor in the crash,” Riches added.
In addition to Utah Highway Patrol troopers and Cedar City Fire Department firefighters, personnel from Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Gold Cross Ambulance and Intermountain Life Flight also responded to the incident.
Just after 7:30 a.m., approximately 20 minutes after the rollover crash and several miles to the east, an unrelated, less serious collision was reported at the intersection of SR-56 and Cross Hollow Road. Cedar City Police Sgt. Justin Ludlow said that the incident was relatively minor and didn’t result in any serious injuries.
This report is based on preliminary statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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