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PROVO CANYON — All lanes of Highway 189 in Provo Canyon are open again after a semitruck rolled, causing hours of lane closures.
The semitruck, which was carrying ammonia nitrate fertilizer, was blocking all of the eastbound lanes for most of the afternoon, according to officials. They said the fertilizer needed to be off-loaded before the vehicle could be moved.
The 41-year-old driver of the semitruck sustained serious injuries during the crash, but is reportedly in stable condition. Officials said he is from Vernal, but have not yet released his name.
The semitruck may have hit a patch of ice on a shady part of the highway, causing the driver to lose control at about 1:30 p.m., according to investigators.
The eastbound lanes remained closed until about 5 p.m. Orem police assisted UHP in closing down the canyon to traffic from 800 North at University Avenue.
Here's a look at our travel sensors of the impacted area of Provo Canyon Hwy 189. Red/yellow indicates delays. pic.twitter.com/P3651mxcHY
— Rikki Meece (@KSLRikki) February 9, 2016
UDOT reported that the area affected by the accident was from Canyon View Park to Canyon Glen Park. The westbound lanes of Highway 189 were also initially closed, but reopened just after 2 p.m.
The Provo Fire Department's hazmat team responded to the scene. None of the fertilizer form the tanker is believed to have spilled into the nearby river.
Provo Canyon Highway Closure
Posted by Sam Penrod KSL on Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Contributing: Sam Penrod