Semitruck driver injured after crashing into truck escorting I-80 paint crew, authorities say

PARK CITY — A semitruck driver suffered significant injuries after authorities say he crashed into a truck that was escorting a paint striping crew late Sunday evening on I-80.

The crash took place about 9:55 p.m. on I-80 near the junction with U.S. Highway 40/189 in Summit County, according to a news release from the Utah Highway Patrol.

The slow-moving paint truck was driving west on the right side of the road and striping the dashed center line and white fog line, according to UHP. A crash attenuator truck was following behind the paint truck.

The semitruck came upon the paint crew in the right lane and, for some reason, did not slow down or move to the right to get around the crew, UHP said.

The semi hit the back of the attenuator truck at a normal freeway speed and then sideswiped the paint truck, UHP said. The semitruck continued down the embankment on the right side of the freeway, coming to rest on a frontage road.

The male semitruck driver suffered significant injuries and was taken to a hospital in poor condition, but is expected to survive, UHP said.

The attenuator truck is designed to protect paint crews and is equipped with a barricade that reduces the impact of crashes, according to UHP.

“Had the attenuator truck not been there, it is likely all three occupants in the paint truck would have been killed in the impact,” UHP wrote in the news release.

Both the attenuator truck and paint truck had arrow boards and construction lights activated, UHP said.

Troopers are still investigating why the semitruck did not move over or slow down for the paint crew. No other details about the crash were available as of Monday morning.

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