SILVER CREEK JUNCTION, Summit County — At least two drivers were injured, one seriously, after an elk on the freeway caused a series of crashes in Summit County.
On Thursday, just after 5 a.m., a Buick SUV heading east on I-80 hit an elk near Silver Creek Junction, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. The UHP had originally stated that a semi-tanker hauling a pup trailer filled with oil was traveling west on I-80 hit the elk first.
After hitting the elk, the Buick pulled over onto the right shoulder.
"A Chevy Cruze then collided with the elk carcass and became disabled in the left shoulder," according to the UHP.
A third vehicle, a Subaru Crosstrek, then became disabled after swerving to avoid the elk carcass and the Cruze.
It was then that the semi-tanker with a pup trailer hauling oil drove through the area and attempted to swerve to avoid the Subaru, but the pup trailer ended up hitting the vehicle, the highway patrol stated.
"The trailer overturned and was dragged down the interstate, where the truck, and tanker and trailer came to a rest on the right shoulder," the UHP stated. "The driver of the Buick was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Subaru was transported with critical injuries, but is now listed as stable."
The road was closed for several hours as the wrecked vehicles were cleared and a small amount of oil that spilled was cleaned up.
