A Utah County man died Friday morning after his pickup truck hit a patch of black ice on Interstate 15, vaulted over the cable divider and collided with a semi.
Kevin R. Miller, 50, of Payson, was driving north at mile marker 253 in Spanish Fork at about 5:40 a.m. when he lost control of his pickup, according to Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Todd Royce.
The pickup hit the cable barrier that divides northbound and southbound lanes, vaulted over and landed in southbound lanes, rolling at least once before coming to rest in the center southbound lane — where it was hit broadside by a semi.
A medical helicopter responded to the crash, but the Miller was pronounced dead at the scene, Royce said. The semi driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The drivers were the only occupants of their vehicles.
The crash shut down southbound I-15 at Spanish Fork, but the freeway was expected to reopen at about 10 a.m., according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
Royce said troopers planned to lay down salt on the freeway before reopening it.
Black ice was a factor in several other crashes Friday morning, Royce said, including many in southern Utah County and in Spanish Fork Canyon.