Sevier County deputy killed in traffic accident

RICHFIELD — A lone orange cone remained standing Friday in a field 250 feet below a freeway overpass, marking the spot where Sevier County Sheriff's Sgt. Franco Aguilar fell to his death.

On the freeway above, a circle of spray paint marked the spot where he had stood just before Thursday night's tragic accident.

"It's just tearing us all apart. He was a fantastic officer, very good teacher, loving supervisor. He taught his people very well," Sevier County Sheriff Phil Barney said.

Aguilar, who turned 36 on Wednesday, was killed while responding to a traffic accident on I-70 on the Fish Creek Bridge about 10:30 p.m. Thursday. A vehicle driven by a woman from Grand Junction, Colo., slid on the icy road into a concrete barrier.

While assisting the woman in that accident, a Chevrolet Suburban with three occupants inside, including an 18-year-old driver from Saratoga Springs, also lost control on the slick road at the same spot and crashed head-on into the first vehicle, said sheriff's detective Nathan Curtis.

The Suburban hit the car and pushed it into Aguilar, who was then thrown off the bridge and fell 103 feet to his death.

Originally police were unsure whether Aguilar was hit and thrown or if he jumped to get out of the way, but after studying tire marks and car paint remnants on Aguilar's clothes, they concluded he was pushed off after being hit by the green Camry. The speed of both vehicles is still under investigation.

The first vehicle suffered extensive damage. All four motorists were taken to local hospitals and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A deputy, holding back tears underneath his dark sunglasses, stopped at the crash site Friday, got out of his car and walked over to look down at the place where his friend had fallen.

"He's the best damn officer I ever knew," said the deputy who declined to give his name.

The snow-covered site west of Richfield and about 11 miles east of I-15, is located in a mountainous area with winding roads dotted with several drop-offs and bridges. "Icy road" signs warn motorists before every bridge.

Gov. Gary Herbert ordered that flags at all state offices be lowered until sunset on Saturday in honor of Aguilar.