UTAH COUNTY, Utah — Authorities say one person was seriously injured and another arrested on DUI charges after a head-on crash involving two pickup trucks Friday evening in Eagle Mountain.
The crash happened at approximately 7:00 p.m. on State Route 73, near the intersection of Eagle Mountain Boulevard, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
What happened
Investigators said a westbound pickup truck towing a trailer crossed into oncoming traffic for unknown reasons and collided head-on with an eastbound pickup truck traveling along SR-73. The impact caused extensive front-end damage to both vehicles and scattered debris across both lanes, temporarily shutting down the highway.
The victims and suspect
The eastbound driver, an adult male, suffered potentially serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Authorities did not release his name but said he is expected to recover.
The driver of the truck pulling the trailer, also an adult male, showed signs of impairment at the scene, officials said. After field sobriety testing, he was taken into custody and booked into the Utah County Jail on DUI-related charges, including suspicion of driving under the influence resulting in injury.
Road closure and cleanup
Emergency crews worked for nearly an hour to clear the wreckage and spilled fluids from the roadway. Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) officials assisted with traffic control, diverting vehicles through alternate routes until the scene was cleared.
State Route 73 was fully reopened to traffic later that night after investigators documented the scene and towed both trucks away.
Ongoing investigation
Deputies from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision, including whether speed or distraction contributed to the crash.
Authorities are reminding drivers that impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of serious crashes in Utah, especially during weekend evening hours.
“This is another preventable tragedy,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said. “Driving under the influence endangers everyone on the road — and this case could have easily been fatal.”
