From Deseret News archives:
Rollover injures 5 at off-roading spot
Deputy would like BLM to close hill to recreational driving
Two men, ages 43 and 42, and three boys, ages 12, 14 and 17, were in the full-size Ford Bronco four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle as it attempted to climb a particularly steep hill about two miles south of Saratoga Springs, Utah County Sheriff's deputy Jim Bingham said. The SUV rolled several times and came to a stop when it hit a tree.
"It was hard to tell for sure how many times they rolled, but there was a lot of damage to the vehicle," Bingham said.
Everyone inside was wearing a seat belt, and all but the 42-year-old, who was driving, were able to pull themselves from the wrecked vehicle. The driver was unconscious, and bystanders pulled him from the SUV.
When sheriff's deputies arrived, the driver had regained consciousness. He and two of the boys were taken by helicopter to Salt Lake hospitals, and the other two victims were taken by ambulance. Their injuries included head and neck injuries, cuts and bruises, and one complained of chest and back pain, Bingham said.
He said all are expected to recover.
The spot, just west of State Route 68, is federally owned public land, and off-road recreational driving is legal there. Bingham said the hill where the accident occurred has been an ongoing problem. An accident nine weeks ago happened in the same spot with the same number of victims.
"I'd actually like to see the (Bureau of Land Management) close that particular hill," Bingham said. "I've been with the sheriff's office 10 years and I don't know how many times I've been called out there."
E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com
