BYU student dies in longboarding accident

A BYU student died in a longboarding accident after reaching 35 miles per hour down a hill in Pleasant Grove last Thursday.

Robison Sundell had been riding a longboard down Grove Creek Drive with friends from BYU following behind in a car and clocking his speed when they said he suddenly fish-tailed and crashed, hitting his head on the road, said Capt. Mike Smith of Pleasant Grove Police.

"It looks like he just lost control of the board," Smith said.

Local police received the call about 4:51 p.m. and called a helicopter to fly an unconscious Sundell to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Smith said. Sundell later died from trauma injuries to the head.

Police said city ordinance prohibits riding longboards, an extended version of a skateboard, on any city street.

"It's definitely not a safe sport," Smith said. "Anything pulls out in front of one of those boards, and you have a major accident on your hands."

— Lana Groves