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WASATCH COUNTY, Utah, Oct. 19, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — At least four people are dead after a dump truck traveling eastbound on State Route 40 crossed a median and collided with an eastbound pickup, hitting it broadside and crushing it.
Three adults in the pickup truck were ejected and died at the scene, according to information provided by Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Lawrence Hopper at the scene.
A fourth adult was not ejected from the pickup, and also died in the accident, which happened at about noon in Wasatch County, near the southeast side of Jordanelle Reservoir.
As of 4 p.m., the body of the fourth victim remained inside the pickup, which was beneath the dump truck, flattened and mangled with the larger truck, Hopper said. It was suspected at least one more body could be inside the crushed pickup.
Hopper said it is believed that all the known victims were male, but officials could not be sure.
“That’s how bad of a crash it was,” he told reporters at the scene. “We can’t identify them as male or female right now. We will wait for the Medical Examiner to confirm that. All were adults.”
Hopper said this may be the most horrible accident he has ever seen, “not just because of the number of fatalities, but the way it happened.”
The driver of the dump truck, which Hopper said belonged to a Park City business, was taken to Park City Hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
“He is not cooperating,” Hopper said. “That’s why we need to work on getting a warrant for a blood draw.”
Another driver had called troopers about the dump truck driver just prior to the accident, Hopper said, reporting that the man was driving recklessly and had nearly cut off the caller.
In addition, two people in a Jeep suffered minor injuries when they swerved to avoid impact with the crash, and their vehicle rolled. They were taken to the hospital by ground ambulance to be checked out.
Hopper noted that all DUI accidents are 100 percent preventable since no one has to drive impaired. Charges against the dump truck driver will be determined by the District Attorney’s Office, he said.
