Two semi crashes block traffic for hours, spill produce into all lanes

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Interstate 15 has reopened after two semi-truck crashes spilled produce and blocked lanes near the Utah-Arizona border late Thursday night.

Trooper Zach Todd with the Utah Highway Patrol said the first crash occurred at 9:30 p.m. Thursday at milepost 3 after a car that was trying to yield to an emergency vehicle pulled over to the right, cutting off a double trailer semi. The semi-truck wasn’t able to stop in time and swerved to the right, sideswiping the car and rolling over across the freeway.

Due to the rollover blocking traffic, the freeway was shut down until about 1 a.m. The driver of the semi had minor injuries and was transported to the hospital to be treated.

The second crash occurred among two semis that were in the backup from the first crash. A semi stopped in the travel lane when his truck had a mechanical problem around milepost two. The driver called 911 to report that he was stuck in the lane when he was hit from behind by another semi-truck, ripping the trailer open.

Both trucks were produce trucks and according to Todd, “We had spilled produce all over the highway blocking all lanes and it was shut down for four hours.” Drivers could use an overpass as an alternate route, but the highway was completely blocked.

The driver of the truck that rear-ended the semi had minor injuries but “miraculously escaped severe injury.”

According to Todd, lanes were opened around 5 a.m. Friday.