ST. GEORGE – A Virginia man was killed near Kanab Monday afternoon following a vehicle collision with a semitractor-trailer.
Around 3:40 p.m., Monday, a passenger car was southbound on state Route 89 near milepost 46 – about 15 miles east of Kanab – when it drifted across the center lane, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. This put the car in the path of an oncoming semi pulling two belly-dump trailers.
The driver of the semi saw the passenger car and attempted to move to the right. Despite this, the car impacted the rear axle of the first trailer and caused severe damage to the car, the UHP said.
The collision also caused the semi and first trailer to overturn.
While the car’s driver and passenger had been properly restrained, the driver, identified as 75-year-old Morland Trombley, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, received fatal injuries from the collision.
The passenger was flown to a hospital via medical helicopter in fair condition, the UHP said.
Preliminary findings by investigators indicate Trombley may have either fallen asleep or lost consciousness as a result of a medical condition when the car drifted across the center lane.
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Twitter: @MoriKessler
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My condolences to the family of the one who lost his life in this accident. Also I hope the truck driver was alright after experiencing this. Now not to be overly picky but those trailers are not technically belly dumps. They can unload from the bottom but typically the product they are carrying is pumped out. Because of this they are pneumatic tank trailers and not belly dumps.
Trombley is a very unusual name. Any relation to Officer Lona Trombley? Condolences, either way.