Death of Uintah coach is termed a tragic accident

VERNAL — The Uintah County Sheriff's Department said Sunday that investigators don't believe drug or alcohol use was a contributing factor in the auto-pedestrian crash that killed Claye Robb, a longtime softball coach at Uintah High School.

Robb, 48, was hit by a pickup truck Friday at around 9:30 p.m. as he was walking about two miles from his home, sheriff's Cpl. Brian Fletcher said.

"We don't suspect any alcohol or drugs at all," Fletcher said. "Sadly enough, this just looks like a real tragic accident. She just didn't see the gentleman and never knew she hit him."

Robb was struck by a 24-year-old Vernal woman who then drove her truck into a power pole. A passing motorist contacted authorities, who believed they were responding to a crash involving only property damage.

When deputies arrived, however, they discovered Robb. He died at the scene.

"We believe he was just on a walk, but due to the circumstances, we're probably never going to know exactly where he was when he was hit — on the side of the road or crossing the road," Fletcher said. He noted that the crash occurred in a rural area of the county and that the streetlights were on the opposite side of the road from where Robb's body was found.

Fletcher said the sheriff's department is still not releasing the name of the driver.

"She's really struggling with this," he said. "She knew the victim; most of us did."

Robb was hired as head coach of the Uintah Ute softball team in February 2007, but had been an assistant coach for a number of years before that. He was also a Boy Scout leader and was recently called to serve as a member of the stake presidency in the Glines Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Uintah High Vice Principal Kevin Dickson, a former coach at the school himself, said Robb was a great mentor for youth, both on and off the field.

"He could get the best out of kids," Dickson said. "He expected his kids to have a work ethic, but his work ethic — he was a great example. He worked very, very hard."

Robb coached the Utes to a first-place finish last season in Region 10 and a berth in the 3A state playoffs with a relatively young team that lost only one senior to graduation. Dickson said there was a lot of anticipation for what this year's team would do.

But as respected as Robb was for his accomplishments on the softball field, Dickson said the true mark of his success as a man was the way he raised his children.