This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An accident late Thursday morning closed down the right lanes of westbound Interstate 80 near the mouth of Parleys Canyon east of Salt Lake City.
Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said a semi-trailer rig partially rolled onto a traffic barrier wall, rupturing one of its "saddle" fuel tanks and spilling an unspecified amount of diesel. The male driver sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to be checked out at a hospital.
Johnson said the driver told troopers he had looked down at his speedometer and then discovered he had drifted into the barrier wall by the time he looked back up at his windshield.
The cause of the accident remained under investigation.
Salt Lake County Fire Department Hazmat crews were called to the scene to clean up the fuel using absorbent sand, Johnson said.
One westbound lane was opened to traffic by 12:35 p.m. UHP expected all lanes to be reopened by 2:30-3 p.m. Thursday.
Traffic was routed onto the ramp for the Quarry Exit and then back onto the freeway, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
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