Truck driver cited in crash that forced Millcreek-area evacuation

Police have cited the driver who rolled his semitrailer on 1-80 and forced thousands of Salt Lake residents to evacuate their homes Friday.

Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cameron Roden said police issued a citation to the driver for "lane travel violations." Roden said investigators concluded the man was turning from I-80 onto I-215 too fast and rolled his truck into the barrier. The tanker was punctured in the accident and bled propane.

"It (was) such a potentially hazardous situation," Roden said.

The man has been cited for failure to properly travel in his lane — a misdemeanor offense, Roden said. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will decide whether charges will be filed, he added.

Roden said he did not know the man's identity.

About 8,000 people were evacuated from their homes from 2900 South to 3300 South and from 2900 East to 3900 East on Friday afternoon as a result of the rollover, Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies said. Residents who witnessed the crash described it as an explosion and felt their houses shake.

Traffic through Parleys Canyon was shut down for several hours after the 1:30 p.m. rollover because of the dangerous situation created by the propane leak.

Hazardous materials teams doused the propane with water to prevent any sparks from triggering an explosion.

The evacuation order was lifted around 10:30 p.m. The wrecked truck was removed from from the roadway a half hour later.

The driver was taken to the hospital with a few minor injuries. Roden said his condition has improved since the wreck. Though the man faces the potential of misdemeanor charges, Roden said he suspects the man's troubles don't end there.

"I think the driver will face a lot of internal company problems as well, regarding his driving," Roden said.

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