Fatal Accident in Ogden Canyon Raises Safety Concerns and Prompts Community Action

A tragic accident occurred near Ogden Canyon, Utah, when a bulldozer fell off a flatbed truck and landed on a westbound pickup truck, resulting in the deaths of a man and his teenage daughter.

The incident took place at 12:49 p.m. on July 6 on SR-39, as the truck transporting the bulldozer was negotiating a curve. The bulldozer slid off the driver’s side and crushed the pickup truck. The victims were Richard David Hendrickson, 57, and his daughter Sally, 16, both from Uintah, Utah.

Hendrickson, who was the CEO and president of Lifetime Products, a sporting goods and outdoor products manufacturer, was pronounced dead at the scene along with his daughter.

Hendrickson’s wife and two other children, who were also in the pickup truck, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The accident halted traffic at both ends of Ogden Canyon for several hours as authorities conducted a crash investigation.

The accident has prompted discussions about the safety of the 5-mile stretch of State Route 39 between Ogden and Pineview Reservoir.

Todd Caron, a resident of Huntsville, Utah, initiated a Change.org petition to regulate the types of vehicles permitted on this hazardous section of the road. The petition has garnered over 4,000 signatures, highlighting community concerns about the road’s safety.

Mitch Shaw, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Transportation (DOT), commented on the safety of canyon roads, acknowledging their narrow and steep nature. He emphasized that if motorists drive cautiously and adhere to speed limits, the roads are generally safe. The Utah DOT plans to conduct a separate review and investigation of the crash to address safety concerns.

To prevent such accidents, best practices for hauling heavy equipment like bulldozers include ensuring that equipment operators are knowledgeable, securing equipment properly against vehicle structures, and using edge protection and manufacturer’s attachment points.

Regular checks of load securement are crucial, particularly after 50 miles and then every three hours or 150 miles thereafter. These practices help maintain load stability, even during extreme maneuvers or accidents.