2 hurt when rig, van collide in Box Elder

COLLINSTON, Box Elder County — A Tremonton man was critically injured when the minivan he was driving slammed into a tractor-trailer Tuesday on state Route 30, the Utah Highway Patrol said. The truck driver suffered minor injuries.

The crash occurred around 10:35 a.m. east of Collinston when the minivan crossed the center line, striking the truck, said trooper Cameron Roden. The truck driver attempted to avoid the crash, Roden said, but the vehicles slammed into each other almost head-on.

The impact spun the van back into the westbound lane of S.R. 30. Roden said the truck, which was hauling cheese, came to a stop after hitting a guardrail.

Shawn Croney, 28, of Tremonton, was extricated from his minivan. He was flown to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden in critical condition with lower leg injuries. Investigators believe Croney may have fallen asleep at the wheel or blacked out.

The truck driver, Casey Earl, 23, of Lewiston, Cache County, was treated at the scene for minor injuries, Roden said. The road was shut down for about two hours to allow the helicopter to land and for the crash investigation and cleanup.

— Geoff Liesik