Moab man dies after truck plunges into Colorado River

MOAB — A Moab man died Monday night after he lost control of his pickup truck on icy roads and ended up in the Colorado River.

Edward W. Fischer, 47, was driving west on state Route 128 about 9:10 p.m. when he hit a patch of ice, the Utah Highway Patrol said. Fischer's truck went off the road and rolled down a 50-foot embankment into the river.

Troopers said Fischer was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the truck. He was taken by ambulance to Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab, where he died shortly after his arrival.

An investigation into the crash is under way. State Route 128 was closed for about 31/2 hours.

— Geoff Liesik