State employee dies in car accident in Duchesne County

DUCHESNE — A wildlife services employee was found dead Friday morning after the state vehicle he was driving rolled down a steep embankment. 

Robert Ivie, 56, had been working 18 years for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food trapping and hunting predators that threatened livestock.

"Ron has been a longtime and dedicated employee who understands the value of his work to protect Utah's livestock industry," said Kyle Stephens, the department's deputy commissioner.

Officials are investigating whether Ivie was killed in the crash or if a medical event triggered the accident, department spokesman Larry Lewis said. The investigation has been turned over to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Ivie was driving in a remote area of Duchesne County about 9:30 a.m. when the accident occurred, officials said. He had been working on predator control on Moon Ranch in the Wolf Creek Pass area.

Lewis said a passerby spotted Ivie's truck and climbed down the embankment to render aid, but Ivie could not be revived.

— McKenzie Romero, Twitter: @McKenzieRomero