I-15 TANKER CRASH KILLS UTAHN, SPILLS FUEL

A northbound tanker truck crashed Tuesday night on I-15 in the northwest corner of Arizona, killing the driver, spilling diesel fuel and blocking northbound traffic.

The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was identified by an Arizona Highway Patrol dispatcher in Flagstaff as Melvin Lyle Stahlhut, 58, Parowan, Iron County. He died at the scene.The truck's right front tire hit a rock, which ruptured the tire, causing the vehicle to run off the road and down into a ravine four miles south of the Utah border, the dispatcher said.

Northbound traffic between Mesquite, Nev., and St. George, Utah, was diverted to U.S. 91 until the road was reopened about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, a Utah Highway Patrol dispatcher said.

Dispatchers said the accident occurred about 8:37 p.m., and a hazardous materials team that happened to be in the area was dispatched to the scene.