HEBER UTAH – Six men died in a crash Friday afternoon after a dump truck hauling dirt landed on top of a pick up. According to Utah Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on U.S. Highway 40 near the Jordanelle Reservoir.
Utah Highway Police Sgt. Lawrence Hopper stated that a dump truck traveling west on the highway veered across the road, jumped a median, then bowed over a cable barrier and landed on the other side of the road before colliding with the pick up truck.
According to KSL TV, the pick up truck had six men inside. Three of the men were ejected and died at the scene. The other three men inside the pick up were not ejected but also died, UHP officials said.
“In my 13-year career, this is probably the worst crash I’ve ever seen,” Highway Patrol Sgt. Lawrence Hopper said.
While on the scene, the driver of the dump truck refused to take any sort of sobriety test and was not being cooperative with the highway officials. Hopper said they believe alcohol may have had a part in causing the accident. Police found open containers and prescription pills inside the dump truck. The driver only suffered minor injuries.
According to authorities, we now know the driver of the dump truck to be 41-year-old Jamie Don McKenzie. He is being held at Wasatch County Jail while under investigations for six counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of driving under the influence and causing serious injury, as well as allegations involving open containers, reckless driving, and speeding.
An eastbound lane was briefly closed because of the crash, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. Traffic in the area was normal as of 9 p.m. Friday, according to UDOT’s website.
#EmergencyTraffic Estimated delays of 1 HOUR that stretch about 5 miles due to fatal crash SB Hwy 40 at Jordanelle Reservoir going from Park City Summit Co. into Wasatch Co. Stop & go delays start after SR-248 Kearns Blvd. @kslnewsradio pic.twitter.com/oJkm6iWmCB
— Rikki Meece (@KSLRikki) October 19, 2018
Friday’s crash was the second fatal wreck on U.S. Highway 40 in 24 hours and the third since Sunday.
We spoke with a Truck Driver’s USA fan who knows the driver who caused this accident. He wished to remain anonymous but had this to say about the driver,
“He is a alcoholic that has been trying to get help. He has had other DUI’S.I think states should look harder into giving people a CDL after they have gotten one…I drive myself and this makes me sick”
