WASHINGTON COUNTY — Two people escaped injury in a rollover early Sunday after swerving to miss a deer in the road.
Just after midnight, Utah Highway Patrol dispatched a trooper to southbound Interstate 15 near mile marker 33, near the Ranch / Snowfield exit, on report of a rollover.
The driver of a white Ford F-150, a man in his mid-20s, was driving northbound when he saw a deer in the roadway. He slammed on the brakes, causing the back end of the truck to fishtail. The momentum carried the truck into the median where it struck soft dirt, causing the vehicle to roll before coming to rest in the southbound lane of traffic, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lars Gardner said.
The driver and the other occupant of the Ford, both wearing seat belts, survived without injury.
Debris was thrown from the truck as it rolled, leaving a large chunk of bent metal in the roadway. The driver of another truck, a white Toyota Tacoma, struck the metal while driving southbound as the incident occurred, Gardner said, causing minor damage to the truck’s front end. That driver was uninjured.
The Ford was severely damaged after somersaulting through multiple lanes of traffic, crushing its cab, shattering its windshield, popping its tires and rendering it inoperable. A wrecker towed it away.
The deer escaped unharmed, the driver of the Ford having successfully swerved to miss it.
The trooper pointed out that a contributor to the rollover was the severely bald state of the Ford’s rear tires.
“This time of year, folks definitely need to be wearing their seat belts, watching their speed – especially at night here on the freeway,” Gardner said. “We’ve got wild animals that are contending for their space.”
“You need to make sure that your vehicles are roadworthy. That includes good tires, especially now that the snow’s going to be flying.”
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, LaVerkin Police and Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue also responded to the incident.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Emergency perosonnel respond to the scene of a rollover, Washington County, Utah, Dec. 11, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue responds to the scene of a rollover, Washington County, Utah, Dec. 11, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
A truck is heavily damaged after its driver swerved to miss a deer, causing the vehicle to roll, Washington County, Utah, Dec. 11, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
A truck is towed after its driver swerved to miss a deer, causing the vehicle to roll, Washington County, Utah, Dec. 11, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Debris thrown from a truck after its driver swerved to miss a deer, causing the vehicle to roll, Washington County, Utah, Dec. 11, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
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Should have paid more attention in drivers ed class
The deer should only cross at deer crossing signs
I’m just glad no one was seriously injured. and both passengers will be home to celebrate the joyous festivities of the holiday season with their loved ones