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HEBER CITY — A 12-year-old Saratoga Springs boy died in a four-wheeler accident Friday.
It was just after 10 a.m. when a call came in reporting the accident in the Clyde Creek area of Strawberry Basin, southeast of Heber City, Wasatch County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jared Rigby said. Two 12-year-old boys were riding together when they apparently lost control of their machine.
"When witnesses arrived on scene, they found a four- wheeler had rolled," Rigby said. "Unfortunately, the driver ended up passing away."
Both boys were wearing helmets. The passenger sustained relatively minor injuries and was able to run for help. He was later taken to Heber Valley Medical Center.
Rigby said the boys were on a gravel road that was fairly developed considering the mountainous area. It is believed they were navigating a curve in the road when the crash occurred.
"It looked like they lost control," Rigby said. "There was a bit of a ditch on one side and it looked like, when the driver lost control, the vehicle did turn over as it was going to the ditch. Unfortunately, the 12-year-old boy was underneath it."
The two boys were friends on a four-wheel and motorbike trip with their families.
"It's just a really unfortunate and tragic accident," Rigby said. "I just want to remind people of (off-highway vehicle) safety and parental involvement as much as possible. We want everybody to have safe experiences and a safe weekend, so if people can keep those things in mind, it would really help."
Contributing: Paul Nelson
