The Utah Highway Patrol is confirming at least four fatalities in a multiple-vehicle crash on U.S. 40 after a dump truck driver, reportedly impaired, jumped the median on the highway.
The Utah Highway Patrol is reporting the crash occurred shortly after 12 noon near the Jordanelle Reservoir.
A dump truck on 40 driving toward the Park City area jumped into the median, over the cable barrier, and broadsided a pickup truck heading eastbound. Three occupants of the pickup truck were ejected and died at the scene. A fourth person, still in the pickup, was also a fatality.
In addition, a Jeep heading eastbound tried to avoid the crash and rolled into an embankment on the right-hand side of the highway. The two occupants there were taken to the hospital.
As of mid-Friday afternoon, the Highway Patrol was not sure if there are additional fatalities in the pickup truck. The dump truck which crushed into the pickup, has to be removed.
The PIO on scene said the fatalities were adults, but the crash was so severe they weren’t even sure if the victims are male or female.
He said they believed impairment was a major factor in the crash since they found open containers of alcohol in the dump truck and prescription pills.
The Highway Patrol said they received a report from another driver who said the dump truck cut him off, just a couple of minutes before the crash.
The dumptruck was unloaded, and is owned by a company out of Park City.
The UHP said the driver was taken to Park City Hospital. He is currently not cooperating, and officers were seeking a warrant to conduct a blood draw.