One person is dead and two more are in critical condition after a two vehicle accident on Highway 40 at MM 50
on Tuesday morning
. According to Utah Highway Patrol PIO Sgt. Nick Street, a red pickup truck hauling a trailer was traveling eastbound past Strawberry Reservoir when it hit ice on the roadway and lost control. The truck and trailer traveled into oncoming traffic and hit head on with a pickup traveling westbound. The driver of the westbound pickup died on scene while the passenger suffered broken bones and other non-life threatening injuries. The driver and passenger in the eastbound red pickup were both flown by medical helicopter to hospitals in critical condition. Initially, the helicopter could not land at the crash site due to fog so the two individuals were transported about 10 miles down the road to meet the helicopter. Sgt. Street urges safety and says that with the ice and fog drivers need to adjust their speed accordingly. As of noon, the road closure was expected to be lifted within the hour. Plows were coming through and putting more salt down before lanes would be opened. Sgt. Street also stated that criminal charges are expected for the driver of the eastbound red pickup related to speeding too fast for conditions and an equipment violation due to poor tread on the tires.
Photo Credits: Mike Stengel
