The Utah Dept. of Transportation has released a video of an accident involving a snow plow and tractor trailer.
The incident was captured on dash camera and took place on Thursday, January 12th, on U.S. Highway 6.
The footage shows the tractor trailer clipping the snow plow as it tried to pass on the right. The contact causes the snow plow to lose control and plummet 300 feet down an embankment.
“The truck clipped the plow, and sent the plow across oncoming traffic,” said Utah DOT director Carlos Braceras. “He went through the guardrail and then it went down 300 feet of embankment, rolling several times.”
Braceras says Utah DOT has repeatedly warned drivers not to pass snow plows because flying snow and slush can cause the passing vehicle to lose visibility, creating a dangerous situation for all.
UDOT media availability re: snow plow crash in SF Canyon yesterday and being safe around plows. 10 AM at Cal Rampton Building. #Utah pic.twitter.com/PmqpmkgVSk
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) January 13, 2017
The driver of the snow plow, Terry Jacobson, suffered serious non-life-threatening injuries.
“He doesn’t remember very much, other than going through the rail and rolling down the hill,” said Neil Lundell, Jacobson’s snowplow supervisor.
“With this accident, It’s proof what our message is: Don’t pass us. Just stay behind us. Even though you’re late, it doesn’t matter. It’s safer behind us,” Lundell said.
The driver of the truck was cited after officers reviewed the dash cam footage.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, this incident was the fourth time this year that a vehicle hit a snow plow while trying to pass.
