KANE COUNTY, Utah, May 23, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A man is dead and his passenger is hospitalized after a car-truck collision near Kanab.
The car carrying the two was headed south on State Route 89 at about 3:40 p.m. Monday, a Utah Highway Patrol report says. The accident happened about 15 miles east of Kanab after the driver drifted into oncoming traffic.
An eastbound commercial vehicle pulling two belly-dump trailers saw what was happening and tried to avoid the impact by moving to the right.
“The passenger car still impacted the rear axle of the first trailer, causing severe damage to the vehicle,” the UHP report says. “The commercial driver’s evasive move and the impact caused the commercial vehicle and first trailer to overturn.
“The driver and passenger car were both properly restrained, but the severity of the collision caused fatal injuries to the passenger car’s driver.”
Officers speculate the car may have drifted due to the driver’s drowsiness or a medical issue.
The passenger was transported to the hospital by medical helicopter in fair condition. The driver has been identified as Morland Trombley, 75, of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The driver of the commercial truck was not injured.
