Missing Nevada Man Fatally Injured in Tractor Trailer Crash
Police reported over the weekend that Lief Johansson, 62 years old from Henderson Nevada, was killed in tractor trailer versus auto accident a few miles north of Paragonah, Utah.
According to KSL News, a Nevada man with dementia who was reported missing and endangered was found by the Utah Highway Patrol after his car was struck by a UPS truck pulling triple trailers.
According to the UHP, Lief Johansson was stopped in the travel lane on northbound I-15 at 5 a.m. on April 13 when the semi-truck hit his vehicle. Prior to the crash, UHP had started receiving calls from motorists about a car stopped in the travel lane and had dispatched a trooper to investigate.
Sadly, the trooper did not arrive in time, and Johansson’s vehicle was struck, fatally injuring him.
As a result of the crash, the semi jackknifed into the median, ripping off its front axle. Johansson’s silver car was pushed onto the right shoulder. Emergency responders attempted to remove him from the vehicle, but it was too late. The truck driver sustained only minor injuries.
Legally speaking, truck drivers are expected to scan the road far ahead—especially on highways. At freeway speeds, they should be looking a full block ahead. However, visibility is limited at night, when headlights may only illuminate 100–200 feet in front of the truck. The key question becomes: what options did the truck driver realistically have when suddenly faced with a stopped vehicle directly ahead?
The situation becomes even more complicated when a semi is pulling triple trailers, which significantly reduces stopping ability and maneuverability. The crash report may offer insight into whether the driver had time to swerve or take evasive action. Additionally, data from the truck’s black box—such as braking time and closing speed—could be crucial in determining whether the crash was avoidable and if the family may have a valid legal claim.
Ron Kramer is an attorney practicing law in West Jordan and throughout Utah.
