This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A semi truck caught fire while braking down an incline on Interstate 70 west of Green River on Tuesday, also causing a brush fire and injuring the driver when a tire exploded, the Utah Highway Patrol reported.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. as the semi was traveling eastbound in an area known as Spotted Wolf, about 12 miles west of Green River.
The brakes of the semi caught fire and the driver pulled off to the side of the highway, where he unsuccessfully attempted to suppress the fire with an extinguisher, the UHP reported.
One of the burning tires exploded and debris from the tire hit the driver's hand and cut it up. The driver was transported to the hospital.
The brush along the side of roadway caught fire, but was extinguished by responding fire fighting personnel.