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Ashley Hayes ReportingA couple of fishermen took to offroading in American Fork last night, though it wasn't on purpose. Two mudslides turned the street they were driving on into a gooey mess.
These guys needed some help. Their truck was wheel-well deep in thick dark mud.
The driver of the pickup is from Midvale and was headed out to American Fork with a buddy to go fishing at Temple Park Reservoir.
He said the rain was ruining the fishing, so after waiting it out about a half hour they headed down the mountain to go home.
John Stewart, Caught in Mudslide: "It was a pretty good thunderstorm. It came down pretty heavy for awhile. We didn't think the road was going to be blocked coming down, though. It was a surprise."
Stewart and his friend managed to maneuver through the first 3-4 foot deep slide, but another one, at 100 feet wide and 5 feet deep, stopped them in their tracks.
Stewart: "The other one was deeper. It's rock. This one was mud and water."
This all took place on State Route 144 on the section between 92 and Tibble Fork. And while the mud prolonged a couple of drivers' arrival home, a Highway Patrol officer says overall they were fortunate to make it home at all.
Sgt. Al Christianson, Utah Highway Patrol: "The danger is that once there's a slide and you try to cross it, let's say there's not something else, there's still boulders coming down, still more mud. You put your life at risk and whoever's with you. You can end up in the river just off the edge of the road."
Christianson says crew will be working on 144 for the next couple of days. They say the only people getting through will be work crews with large trucks and equipment to remove the mud piles from the mountain.
