One dead, one critical in fiery crash that sets off ammunition
I-80 » Head-on collision sets off ammunition in truck.
By Lindsay Whitehurst
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 06/14/2009 08:42:36 AM MDT


A fiery crash on Interstate 80 near the Tooele County-Salt Lake County line killed one person, critically injured another and closed the highway for hours on Saturday, police said.
The victim has been identified as Mark Neilson of Magna, said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden. Neilson's age was not available.
The crash happened at about 11 a.m. when an eastbound Dodge Dakota driven by Neilson crossed the median and hit a westbound FedEx triple-semitrailer head-on, said Roden. Part of the truck was loaded with ammunition.
The collision started a fire that engulfed the SUV and part of the semi, and some of the ammunition went off as emergency crews worked to clean up the crash, he said.

Authorities closed the interstate, but opened one eastbound lane and one westbound lane at about 3 p.m., Roden said.
Troopers believe Neilson's SUV was cut off by a pickup truck, described only as dirty and white, that did not stop at the scene, Roden said. The SUV crossed the median through a turn-off gap in a cable barrier.
UHP is looking to speak to the driver of the pickup truck, Roden said.
Neilson was burned beyond recognition in the accident, Roden said. The semi driver was flown to University Hospital in critical condition.
State Road 201 also was closed on the westbound side for several hours, the Utah Department of Transportation reported.
Traffic was backed up for more than a mile, and drivers were turned back because of the closure.
lwhitehurst@sltrib.com

I really dislike those triple trailer semi's.

I don't think they're even allowed here, am I right? I think we're limited to two trailers, and that's only on special roads?

They have to be allowed because of interstate transportation laws. If you're a Class A driver in Minnesota you need an extra endorsement to drive them though. So that's why you probably don't see as many.

In Iowa its a matter of Bridge Laws and wheel bases which more or less outlaw triple trailers. At least it was when I got my CDL 9 years ago. I thought MN was the same, I've not seen any more than a double in the past few years.

(d) No State may enact or enforce any law denying access within 1 road-mile from the National Network using the most reasonable and practicable route available except for specific safety reasons on individual routes.