Two truckers arrested after fatal I-15 crash

The woman, identified by police as 28-year-old Melissa Sandoval of Santaquin, died after the car she was driving struck two different semitrailer trucks around 7:15 a.m. on I-15 near Payson.

The 43-year-old driver of a northbound truck was arrested and booked into Utah County Jail for investigation of driving under the influence. He allegedly had marijuana in his system, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Cameron Roden said. The 59-year-old driver of a second, southbound truck was arrested and booked for investigation of reckless endangerment and for a log book violation.

Witnesses told police that Sandoval was traveling north on I-15 when she made contact with a semitrailer truck that was allegedly being driven recklessly. After striking the truck, Sandoval lost control and drove off the road, Roden said.

He said she then came back onto the road, but once again made contact with the northbound truck and drove into the median.

After going through the median, Sandoval went up onto the southbound side of the highway and struck the back trailer of southbound semitrailer truck pulling two trailers, Roden said. She was killed on impact.

The trailer became disconnected and also went off into the median, requiring the closing of all southbound lanes and one northbound lane, Roden said.

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