According to KSL TV, a collision involving two semi-trucks killed two men and shut down Interstate 80 for six hours on Wednesday.
Details of the Fatal Wreck
The fatal crash between two 18-wheelers occurred on Interstate 80 near Grantsville, Utah, at around 3:00 a.m. local time.
One truck heading eastbound carried a military vehicle on a flatbed. This truck struck a median, causing the military vehicle to detach from the flatbed.
Another truck traveling westbound, a FedEx double-load tractor trailer, crashed into the military vehicle that rolled into westbound lanes, according to KSL TV. The FedEx truck burst into flames, causing significant damage to the road.
A passenger in the FedEx truck died from injuries suffered in the collision, reports KSL TV. In addition, the driver of the semi carrying the military vehicle died from his injuries. The main driver in the FedEx truck survived the crash and received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
Trucking Accident Statistics
The following information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- In 2014, 3,903 people died in crashes involving large trucks – a 2 percent decrease from 2013.
- An estimated 111,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2014.
- Seventy-nine percent of people killed in large-truck crashes were occupants of the other vehicles.
- In addition, 74 percent of the people injured in large-truck crashes were occupants of the other vehicles.
