A driver escaped injury when the coal truck he was driving left the highway, traveled several hundred yards through the brush and bridged a canal before coming to a stop.
Utah Highway Patrol said the truck was northbound at about 11:30 Monday night when the driver, who has not been identified, fell asleep near Stake Farm Road.
Trooper Brett Bennett noted the truck, which belongs to DCL Transportation of Helper, must have been moving at a high speed to travel as far as it did through the sagebrush and soft dirt off the road. He said it’s fortunate that the big rig stayed upright.
Within the rules
Trooper Bennett said the driver was within his federally-regulated hours of service. He had been off work over the holiday weekend, and was hauling the last load of the shift.
The driver was wearing a seat belt/shoulder harness.
Driver falls asleep, coal truck lands in canal
The truck came to rest as it bridged a dry canal. Rick Sherman, Sun Advocate Reporter