OGDEN, Utah — A dump truck driver died in a crash that ended in Pineview Reservoir on Friday evening.
Calls began to come into emergency dispatch at 3:49 p.m. of a driver who had driven off Trapper’s Loop and crashed into the water, according to Utah Highway Patrol.
There was a deadly crash with a commercial vehicle in basically the same place a couple of years ago, according to UHP. There have apparently been other crashes in addition to that one. This one left a lot of people at the reservoir stunned.
Beside a crystal-clear reservoir, at first it wasn’t very clear what was happening.
“We thought it was actually an accident on the road in the very beginning,” Jennifer Fisher told KSL. “We’re like, ‘we just hope he’s ok.”
Chopper 5 had an exclusive view from overhead as crews scrambled to help.
Troopers are on scene at Trappers Loop and SR39 for a dump truck that has entered the water. More information will provided as more resources arrive on scene. At the time the number 1 lane is blocked. pic.twitter.com/DigubCU8Ku
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) July 21, 2023
“We could see the guys going down the hill to try to see, to try to figure out how to get that dump truck out of the water,” Fisher said. “It’s a steep drop down in there.”
Utah Highway Patrol says it all started on a road just above Pineview Reservoir.
“A commercial dump truck was traveling north on Trapper’s Loop coming down the grade,” Sgt. Brandon Whitehead with the Utah Highway Patrol said. “He was unable to stop.”
After barreling through a field, the truck came to rest at the edge of the reservoir.
“The frontmost part of the dump truck was covered in water and then also a lot of dirt that came from the load,” Whitehead said.
Troopers say the driver was killed in the crash. Apparently, not the first in this spot.
“Especially with commercial vehicles, we’ll have situations like this. It doesn’t happen very frequently, but it does,” Whitehead said. “Because of the incline they’re coming down from Trapper’s Loop.”
Fisher said, “Last thing that we expected is that dump truck would be down the ravine.”
Visitors at the reservoir were in disbelief that something like this could unfold in such a pristine setting.
Fisher said, “It’s just unfortunate when you see things like this happen.”
Troopers said it appeared the dump truck lost its brakes coming down the hill.
A witness told them they watched the truck constantly braking and that smoke started coming from the wheel hubs.
Investigators say the driver is from Mexico and that’s where most of his family lives. The truck belongs to a contractor in Davis County.
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