Deseret News
Copyright 2007 The Deseret News Publishing Co.
ROOSEVELT, Utah — Two U.S. Forest Service firefighters were injured Wednesday in a rollover while responding to a small wildfire in Duchesne County.
Utah Highway Patrol trooper Rex Olsen said 26-year-old Duchesne resident Justin Moore was southbound on Moon Lake Road when he entered a turn and lost control of the Forest Service brush truck he was driving. The truck went off the left side of the road and Moore over corrected. Olsen said the truck then rolled 1 1/2 times, coming to rest on its roof.
The Duchesne Fire Department was called out to extricate Moore from the truck. He was flown by helicopter to a Salt Lake hospital. Olsen said Moore suffered a broken leg and was complaining of back pain.
Firefighter Daniel Roberts, 22, of Tabiona, also was injured. He was taken by ambulance to Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt with injuries to his head and arms. Roberts was later flown to Salt Lake City for additional medical treatment.
Olsen said speed appeared to be a contributing factor, and a citation is pending. Both men were wearing seat belts.
The crash shut down Moon Lake Road for nearly four hours.
The Uintah Basin Interagency Fire Center said the fire Moore and Roberts were responding to burned less than an acre.