SNOWVILLE -- John Applegate, a 73-year-old man from Washington state, died in a rollover on Interstate 84, about five miles east of Snowville.
The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday near Mile Marker 11. His 2007 Toyota FJ2 rolled, and Applegate was ejected and killed, said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Lee Perry.
"He drifted out of his lane of travel ... swerved back up onto the roadway and punctured a delineator post," Perry said.
The post punctured the gas tank as he drifted to the left side of the road and caused the SUV to catch fire before it began to roll.
"So it was on fire as the vehicle rolled about three times, leaving a trail of gas and fire," Perry said.
Applegate died as soon as he was ejected from the SUV, Perry said.
The SUV wound up on its roof about 100 feet from the roadway, still on fire, according to UHP.
Once the fire was out, officials waited for the vehicle to cool enough so they could investigate the accident as well as confirm there were no passengers in the SUV, Perry said.
"It doesn't appear there was anyone else in the vehicle," he said.
Applegate was not wearing his seat belt.
Troopers theorize Applegate may have fallen asleep at the wheel.
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