Utah Semi-Trucks, Police Cruiser Crash Hurts 4

Jan. 21--TREMONTON-- A series of crashes involving three semitrailers, a passenger car and a Box Elder County sheriff's patrol vehicle closed eastbound Interstate 84 near Tremonton for about four hours early Friday morning.

Four people were hurt in the accidents, which happened shortly after 3 a.m., according to a report from the Utah Highway Patrol.

Black ice and slick road conditions are believed to have contributed to the accidents, said UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson. The mishap began when a semi pulling an empty tanker jackknifed and struck a slower-moving Conway model semi, also pulling a trailer.

A third semi then lost control, jackknifed and slid into the tanker truck, the UHP report states.

A 34-year-old man from Salt Lake City driving the Conway truck was transported to an area hospital in serious condition with face and head injuries.

A 67-year-old woman driving the tanker truck sustained chest injuries, and her 59-year-old husband who was in the vehicle's sleeper compartment suffered chest and back injuries. Both were taken to an area hospital.

A 52-year-old man from Virginia driving the third semi was treated at the scene and released. His co-driver, a 49-year-old man from Maryland, who had been in the sleeper, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

About 4 a.m. a black SUV from Washington State reached the original crash scene traveling too fast and slid into a Box Elder County sheriff's deputy truck while the deputy was assisting the UHP. No one was injured in that crash, but both vehicles sustained excessive damage.

No citations were immediately issued in connection with the accidents.

The interstate reopened about 7 a.m.

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