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Karen Scullin ReportingHeber Valley residents tonight watched an accident unfold for over two miles along Highway 40. A truck driver lost a couple of tires, but kept on driving leaving a trail of chaos behind him.
The driver of a tanker truck had some serious problems going on behind him tonight, but he apparently couldn't see them. So it was everyone else who watched and waited for it all to come to an end.
When two of the tires on a trailer suddenly flew off sparks started flying, igniting a number of fires that spread quickly and came dangerously close to homes.
For two and a half miles the truck driver had no idea what was happening behind him. Rollo Brinkerhoff says he didn't know there was a problem until the trailer finally fell over. That's when he stopped the truck.
Rollo Brinkerhoff, Truck Driver: “The next thing i know the pup's on it's side and trying to come around me."
Witnesses watched it all happen and seemed surprised the driver didn't have a clue what was going on.
Brian Davis, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper: “They heard it happen. She said it was a lot of sparks and fire, and apparently the truck driver didn't know what was going on."
When the trailer tipped over, the top of it popped open and 25 hundred gallons of crude oil spilled into the ditch below. Cleanup will continue into the night and most likely into tomorrow. Meanwhile troopers are checking the truck to see if there were any obvious warning signs, and say it could have been much worse.
Rollo Brinkerhoff, Truck Driver: “Kinda scary, huh? At the time, yea, it was scary."
When the tires initially flew off they did hit a passing pickup truck. KSL was told the pickup was demolished, but incredibly the driver wasn't hurt. In fact, no one was hurt.
