BOUNTIFUL - As if the wreck of a semi on northbound I-15 here Monday morning wasn't bad enough, the tow truck being used to remove the semi rolled on its side during the clean-up, adding to the mess and delay. The original wreck happened about 4:30 a.m. when a semi, carrying a piggyback container spun out of control on northbound I-15 at about 500 West, slamming into a concrete barrier, breaking the cab off and stripping the axles from the rig. The impact caused the cab to bounce back onto the freeway, but the rig wound up on top of the concrete wall, and fuel leaked onto the freeway.

Northbound I-15 was closed and traffic rerouted between 500 South and Parrish Lane in Centerville for several hours as the clean-up proceeded.

Emergency crews sanded the road to gather the fuel which leaked and three lanes of the road reopened.

But a major problem arose when the tow truck tried to pull the rig from the wall. The tow truck itself rolled on its side and had to be righted with a winch attached to another piece of clean-up equipment.

That took the road back down to one lane for a time. It was finally opened to traffic after 10 a.m.

Authorities say fatigue may have played a part in the accident, as eyewitnesses reported the driver "was all over the road prior to him going off the road here," according to Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Robert Breck. "He hit one of the barriers farther back prior to 400 North. As he continued northbound, he was all over the road."

The driver was taken to a hospital in serious condition with broken ribs and head contusions, but he is expected to survive.

The wreck stalled traffic in both directions, moving it up to 500 West, 200 West in Bountiful and 400 West in Centerville, Main Street and even Orchard Drive, causing local police some major traffic control headaches.

At one point, Bountiful Police were directing traffic at the busy 1000 North and 200 West intersection, as View- mont High School students were trying to get to class.

Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child said that the accident was a good example of the need for the Legacy Parkway. "If Legacy had been in place, it could have taken care of the traffic tie-ups."

mwilliams@davisclipper.com