July 22, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A motorhome passenger is dead and the driver was hospitalized after the Leisure Travel Vans motorhome struck a Freightliner semi that suddenly overturned, blocking the path of the smaller vehicle, which was unable to avoid the collision.
The semi driver also was transported to a local hospital, a Utah Highway Patrol statement says, as were two additional passengers from the motorhome.
The incident happened at about 4:40 a.m. Sunday near milepost 200 of Interstate 70, in Grand County.
“For reasons still being investigated, the driver of the semi ran off-road right and overcorrected left back towards the road,” the UHP statement says.
“The semi overturned onto its passenger side, blocking both eastbound lanes. A white Leisure Travel Vans motorhome was traveling eastbound in the same location in the right lane.
“The driver of the motorhome crashed into the blocking semi. The 67-year-old male front passenger in the motorhome died on the scene. The driver of the semi sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the motorhome was also transported with moderate injuries.
“There were two other passengers in the motorhome. They were also transported, one with serious injuries and the other with serious to critical injuries.”
Both I-70 travel directions were closed for five hours during the investigation and cleanup.
Impairment is being investigated as a potential factor in this crash, the UHP statement says. The semi-driver was booked into the Grand County Jail.
The passenger who died has been identified as Tracey J. Haeggstrom, from Orange, Calif.
