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- A semitruck carrying crude oil crashed into a Carbon County home Monday.
- Four people were injured, two critically; a 12-year-old was taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured.
- The crash remains under investigation by Utah authorities, but drowsy driving could be a factor.
WELLINGTON, Carbon County — Four people were injured, two critically, after a semitruck hauling crude oil crashed into a Carbon County home Monday morning.
Emergency crews responded to a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a home near 900 East and Main Street in Wellington shortly before 6:30 a.m. Utah Highway Patrol troopers say the truck hauling a tanker trailer with about 10,000 gallons of crude oil was traveling east on U.S. 6 — which is Main Street in the city — when, for an unknown reason, it veered to the right and off the roadway.
The truck crashed into six vehicles parked at an auto repair shop before hitting a utility pole, a fire hydrant and fencing. It then went through an open field before crashing into the house. Three people were inside the home at the time of the crash, two of whom — a man and woman whose ages were not released — were struck by the truck, said UHP Lt. Evan Kirby.
Randy Thayne, who lives in the area, told KSL-TV that he thought it was a thunderstorm at first when he heard the commotion, and the lights inside his home flickered. When he looked out his window and saw the wreckage, he ran to the neighbor's home to help render aid before first responders arrived.
"We started pulling wood and blocks out of there, trying to get to (the woman) in there to get her out and help her," he said.
Both the injured adults were transported by ambulance before being flown by medical helicopter to another hospital in critical condition, Kirby said. Troopers added that a 12-year-old boy who was asleep in his bed at the time of the crash was also transported to a hospital, but he was not injured in the crash.
A man driving the truck and a woman riding in the back cab of the vehicle were transported to a hospital with serious injuries, troopers added. Their names and ages were not released, either.
Drowsy driving is being considered as a possible factor in the crash, but the investigation remains ongoing, Kirby said. He added that drivers should be "well-rested" before any long trips. Investigators are also looking to see if there were any issues with the truck's brakes.
Wellington police and firefighters, as well as first responders from Price and Carbon County, assisted in the emergency response. Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge Gas Company crews were also called out to the scene.
Crews also came in to drain the crude oil from the tanker before the truck was removed from the home.
"Luckily, nothing caught fire, which would've made this drastically worse," Kirby said.
