ST. GEORGE — The driver of a pickup truck was in for a surprise, Monday, April 17, when he crested a hill in time to see a tri axle dump truck loaded with stones careening up the hill toward him at a sideways angle, stretching across both lanes. The pickup driver immediately jerked his vehicle off the road and came to a stop over a hedge of a front lawn. In the roadway, the dump truck went from precariously balanced on two wheels, to the hitting the ground on its side and then continued traveling up the hill for several more yards.

For several hours following the approximate 1:15 p.m. incident, the area around 555 River Road (Route 131) in St. George was closed to traffic while numerous crews played their parts. Some St. George firefighters assisted the dump truck driver from the rig while others provided traffic control. Knox County Sheriff’s deputies questioned both drivers, as well as any other witnesses, and then EMS personnel transported the dump truck driver to the hospital for observation. 

Construction crew members from JK Kalloch arrived with another dump truck and an excavator to move the rocks from the road. Meanwhile, AutoMaster pulled the pickup, which was still drivable, out of the hedge before turning to the larger truck on its side.

According to KCSO, on-scene investigation determined that the eastbound dump truck hit the soft shoulder; the driver overcorrected and then lost control. 

The driver of the pickup was not injured, though he was quite shaken, according to the deputy on scene. No damage to the pickup could be seen from the angle of the driver’s side as he drove away (with permission to leave). 

The dump truck is owned by DL Overlock.

River Road reopened at 4 p.m.