Vernal boy dies in accidental burial
VERNAL — A 7-year-old boy died Wednesday from injuries he suffered after he was accidentally buried at a construction site.
Sheriff's deputies and Naples police officers were called Tuesday night to an area east of Vernal, Uintah County Sheriff's Cpl. Brian Fletcher said.
Whitland Bruce Cluff was found under about 2 feet of dirt several minutes after officers arrived.
Cluff had been playing with other children at the construction site on family property where a bulldozer with a 4-foot-tall blade was leveling ground. Fletcher said Cluff was unable to get out of the bulldozer's way for some reason and the heavy equipment operator, a relative, had no way of seeing the boy over the blade.
There was plenty of family there and the kids had been told to stay out of the way of the equipment, Fletcher said.
The other children playing with Cluff alerted the bulldozer operator about what had happened and individuals on scene began trying to locate the boy while they waited for police to arrive.
"It was just a tragic, tragic accident," Fletcher said.
Cluff was taken to Ashley Regional Medical Center before being flown to Primary Children's Medical Center. He died there Wednesday morning.
— Geoff Liesik
Recent comments
Sad Day
Anonymous | June 24, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.
How incredibly tragic!
SL | June 24, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.
- Collie hailed as role model 6:05 p.m.
- Leaders look to clean up Depot Dist. 6:04 p.m.
- Trucking company donates to U. 6:00 p.m.
- Kids may suffer from exhaust fumes 5:43 p.m.
- School holds PE during lunch 5:42 p.m.
- Bill: Gov. could pick chief justice 5:41 p.m.
- Foundation divvies out upgrades 5:39 p.m.
- Gifts your valentine will heart 5:10 p.m.
- Why do boys have to burn things? 5:05 p.m.
- Look out, my girl's on Facebook 5:04 p.m.
- Utah Jazz Ironmen
- High school players commit to BYU
- LDS veggie program helps Bolivians
- Teacher merit pay debated
- Utahn's 'Caveman Diet' catching on
- SLC's City Creek moves ahead
- MWC race shaping 'Survivor' style
- Kaman, not Boozer, on All-Star team
- 2nd Layton girl hospitalized from gas
- Cougars hope for fast rebound
- UNLV bombs BYU into loss
185 - Teacher merit pay debated
181 - Why do they hate us? Try asking
153 - Countering attacks on LDS scholarship
142 - Letters: Tea Party hypocrites
118 - Rally in opposition to benefit cuts
90 - Utah football alters schedule
80 - High school players commit to BYU
77 - Let's talk college hoops
77 - BYU's prime postseason position?
77
The Kepler probe, launched 11 months ago to hunt for Earthlike worlds...
Interesting and entertaining observations of the Utah Legislature.
Yes, Steve was student-body president at both American Fork High School and...
to Anonymous @ 3:14 | 3:51 p.m. Feb. 9, 2010 It's all perspective. Work...
If I could afford one I'd buy a Prius right now. I owned a Toyota in the...
It is interesting how the Utah judiciary has been able to have arguably more...
just saying marriage belongs in a "church court" is pretty crazy. it may not...
I have been hearing and reading about how great your team is and how they...
Lay off Sarah, She's the best thing to happen to the Democratic party since...
Its not just burning, they like to blow things up too. 'Makes you wonder how...
Has anyone compiled a list of the names & ages of the 350 battalion members...
I have worked for the State 15.5 years - never once received a raise in pay...



