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GRANTSVILLE --High winds toppled a tractor trailer on Interstate 80 near Grantsville Wednesday afternoon.
Related:
Wind to usher in heavy mountain snowfall
Wednesday morning's blue skies and mild temperatures are literally the calm before a storm that is anticipated to deliver as much as 2 feet of snow in the mountains.The Utah Highway Patrol said the accident happened in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 83. The semi is off the road, partially submerged in water.
Another truck driver KSL News spoke to said he saw the accident happen and immediately jumped in to help.
"[We] actually jumped in and got his head out of the water real quick," Scott Geertsen said. "Then we tried to pull the seat out of him, but it was stuck. Then another guy come and dropped his trailer, hooked onto the truck to keep him from sliding further into the water. Basically, we just stood in the water and tried to get him out until the fire department came and cut the seat out."
UHP Corporal Todd Johnson told KSL the driver's legs were pinned under the seat, and a dive team had to be called in to help extract him from the vehicle.
The man was transported to the hospital with serious leg injuries, but he is expected to be OK.
Meanwhile, the gusting winds forced the UHP to shut down a stretch of I-80 from the Nevada border to the Kennecott area to high profile vehicles such as RVs and semis for a time.
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Story written with contributions from Alex Cabrero and Amy Joi O'Donoghue.
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