WASATCH COUNTY, Utah, Oct. 16, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A 41-year-old man who was seriously injured when his truck plunged down a 40-foot ravine near Strawberry Reservoir early Sunday morning was able to climb out to and flag down a passing motorist.
Dispatch received a call at approximately 5 a.m. about a crash on State Route 40 at mile marker 55, according to a news release from Utah Highway Patrol.
The caller was a motorist, flagged down by someone who had been walking by, who reported spotting a 2014 Dodge Ram truck, towing a boat, which had gone down a 40-foot ravine and that the driver was still in the truck.
Before emergency personnel could arrive on scene, both reporting parties had left the area, making it difficult to find the crash. Troopers and medical personnel searched the area for more than two hours, with no luck.
During this time, the driver of the crashed truck was able to extract himself, climb up the embankment, and wave down a passing vehicle.
At 7:10 a.m., emergency crews were on scene. The driver was airlifted to Intermountain Medical Center with serious injuries to his legs, back, and possible internal injuries.
The investigation as to how he veered off the roadway is ongoing. In talking to the driver, it is believed that fatigue played a role in the crash. Officials believe he went off the road, and down the ravine around 2 a.m. The news release from UHP said cell service in the area is spotty at best.
