Elk Ridge Middle School teacher hit, killed while jogging to school in South Jordan

SOUTH JORDAN — To his students, Randy Treglown was much more than just a gym teacher or a basketball coach.

A mentor, a role model, a person who led by example is how the popular Elk Ridge Middle School physical education instructor was described Wednesday as students, teachers and a community mourned his death.

Treglown, 51, was jogging to work about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday — as he did every day — when he was hit and killed by a Ford F-150 truck while in a crosswalk along 4000 West near 9800 South.

South Jordan police were still investigating the accident Wednesday. Among other things, they were trying to determine whether Treglown or the 32-year-old driver of the truck had the right of way. The motorist told police he didn't see Treglown until he struck him.

South Jordan Police Lt. Rob Hansen described the driver — who stopped and immediately tried to administer aid after the accident — as being very cooperative with detectives, and also very shaken over what happened.

"We do believe the driver in that he never saw him," Hansen said. "The driver of the vehicle is not showing any signs of impairment. He lives in the area … is very cooperative and obviously feels terrible."

Police and witnesses said Treglown was wearing a dark green shirt and black pants when he was hit, and he was not wearing any reflective gear or a light, making him hard to see.

Word of the popular teacher's tragic accident spread rapidly, and the tributes started to be posted on social media pages almost immediately.

"I would like to take a moment to thank you for all you have done for me throughout your life, as a teacher, as a coach, as a co-worker and as a friend. I have always looked up to you my entire life," one boy wrote on his Facebook page in tribute to Treglown. "I guarantee you changed kids' lives because of your efforts to stop bullying. As a coach, you helped me become a better basketball player, but even more importantly, I wanted to become a basketball coach because of you."

"I spent many, many hours in the gym with Coach Treglown. He taught me so much about life and sports. He was truly a great man. I can say (he was) the most influential teacher I have ever had — period. Best coach I've ever had — period. He cared about his students and his players. I still talk about him to this day. He will never be forgotten," wrote former student Brady Haider. "He always got to school before anyone else to open the basketball gym so that students could play basketball before school. He knew all his students' names, and even the kids who did not particularly like P.E., they liked going to P.E. because of Coach Treglown."

Haider still has one of Treglown's quotes written down as inspiration: "The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."

Elk Ridge Principal Larry Urry said Treglown wouldn't ask his students to do anything he wasn't willing to do himself. If he asked his students to run in class, he ran along with them, added Jordan School District spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf.

"He was a highly respected, well-loved guy who went above and beyond in everything he did," Riesgraf said.

The school is located nearby at 3659 W. 9800 South. Treglown was in the middle of his 17th year at Elk Ridge and had been with the district for 29 years, Riesgraf said.

"He was very committed, a very good guy," Urry said. "He was just a person you knew you could trust all the time. He was always straight and honest with you, and was always very caring about everyone and tried to help everyone do their best. He was a great defender of people."