ST. GEORGE — A jackknifing camping trailer caused a pickup truck to roll over on Interstate 15 Monday, causing miles of backed-up traffic.
The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. on northbound I-15 near mile marker 20, which is close to Leeds, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said. The trailer was whipping back and forth, which caused the vehicle to turn over, he said.
The overturned trailer and Ford pickup truck blocked the left lane of I-15, which slowed traffic to a crawl until tow trucks could remove them from the scene. Occupants in the pickup truck were able to get out of the vehicle unharmed, Mower said.
“Thankfully, there were no injuries,” Mower said. “There were also no other vehicles involved.”
Wind could have been a factor in the causing the trailer and pickup truck to roll over, Mower said.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Folks, this is easily avoidable, but happens frequently on this stretch of road.
Don’t overload your vehicle. Don’t exceed your hitch weights, axle weight ratings, or GVWR/CGVWR. Have enough truck to tow (and carry in the case of a 5th wheel or gooseneck) the load.
Use an appropriate hitch. If you need a weight-distributing hitch, get one and use it.
Know the ratings and conditions on your trailer tires. Keep them properly inflated and don’t exceed their speed rating.
Know how to use your trailer brake controller. There is a manual lever that can be helpful to resolve trailer sway if used correctly, then slow down and pay more attention.
good advice. going 85+ mph with a huge trailer is generally not wise– see it all the time. I’d recommend nothing over 70. Much easier to recover from trailer sway at lower speeds.
Any trailer of that length and size being pulled by a pickup should require the pickup to be equipped with a trailer towing package and the trailer with a braking system.