This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Roosevelt man died when a oncoming semi rig hauling a tanker of crude oil slid into the path of his pickup truck on an icy Duchesne County road.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce said that 49-year-old Dean Townsend was driving a 2011 Dodge pickup near Pierriette Road and 8700 South on Thursday morning when the semi, having lost traction and out of control on a downhill stretch, jackknifed.
The semi's tanker trailer slid around the side of the rig and across the roadway, striking Townsend's vehicle. Royce said Townsend was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7 a.m. Thursday accident.
The semi's driver was uninjured. None of the oil leaked from the tanker, UHP said.
The accident remained under investigation Friday, but troopers believe the wintry weather conditions at the time of the crash were major factors.
Twitter: @remims