This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Likely more than a day after it happened, a passerby on Sunday discovered a deadly crash site in central Utah.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers believe that sometime earlier in the weekend, Deron J. Mason, 47, died after his semi-truck rolled down a steep Millard County embankment. He was from Wiggins, Colo.
The semi was carrying produce eastbound on Interstate 70 when, for some reason, it left the highway and rolled down the embankment, according to the UHP. The crash site is about a mile west of the Millard-Sevier county line.
Mason, who was not wearing his seat belt, was partially thrown from the truck and died, according to a UHP news release.
The truck came to rest partially on its roof and was not visible from the highway. No one found it until a family stopped near the crash site Sunday to stretch their legs and looked over the embankment, said Trooper Evan Kirby.
Troopers are still examining his log books to figure out when Mason crashed. It likely occurred more than 24 hours before the passerby found him, according to UHP.
"At this point we know he fueled up in Las Vegas Friday morning and did not make his delivery in Denver on time," UHP stated.
In the meantime, the U.S. Forest Service is helping cut down trees between a dirt road and the crash site so that heavy equipment can access the scene. Heavy rain and hail have slowed progress clearing the crash site.
Troopers say controlled substances "are indicated" in the crash, and that they are investigating that further.
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