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TOOELE COUNTY — A bus driver was killed on I-80 Monday, and five passengers were injured, when the bus crashed into a maintenance vehicle.
The driver was identified as Pita Asiata, 53, of Bountiful.
The accident happened around 6 p.m. in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 34, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
UHP Lt. Corey Nye said the Le Bus tour bus was headed east out of Wendover, carrying about 50 passengers. A couple of maintenance trucks working on building barriers were slowing down in the left-hand lane and turning into the median, Nye said.
"The first vehicle began to slow. The bus was unable to stop, (and) they collided," Nye said. "The force pushed the truck to where you see it at this point."
An auger on the back of the maintenance truck crashed through the bus' windshield and into the driver's seat, impaling the driver, who died at the scene.
According to one of the men in that maintenance crew, their trucks had their hazard lights on and should have been visible, especially since it was still daylight at the time.
"The bus swerved out of the right lane to pass a car," said Brady Warnock, who witnessed the accident. "I guess they didn't notice the brake lights or anything, and smacked into the back of the drill truck. I heard the tires squealing, which was a little scary."
Three bus passengers were taken to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. Two other passengers, who were sitting behind the bus driver, had more serious injuries and were flown to the hospital in critical condition.
None of the people in the maintenance truck were hurt.
The uninjured bus passengers were put on another bus, and they headed back to Salt Lake City at about 9 p.m.
State troopers were still investigating the scene Monday night to determine who was at fault in this crash. The left lane of eastbound I-80 remained closed during that investigation.
Contributing: Jordan Ormond
