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HOBBLE CREEK CANYON — A husband and wife were killed Friday when their pickup truck went over the side of a road and fell about 600 feet in a Utah County canyon, police said.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said some bicyclists found debris and tire marks near the Wardsworth trailhead of Hobble Creek Canyon shortly after 4:30 p.m. Friday and called police.
“They said there were some tire marks and car parts going over the edge of a very steep hillside,” Cannon said. “They could see the car parts, but they could not see the car.”
The area where the vehicle left the road, Cannon said, was nearly a 600-foot drop-off to the bottom of the ravine. Rescue crews found the bodies of Lance Simpson, 46, of Elk Ridge, and his wife, Jade Simpson, were found in different areas along the path where the truck fell, according to Cannon.
“Both of them had been thrown from the vehicle,” Cannon said. “It was a very violent crash. Both of them suffered significant injuries.”
Cannon said officials are still investigating the cause of the crash, but evidence found at the crash site shows alcohol may have played a factor.
The sergeant said the seat belts in the truck were buckled, but investigators have been unable to determine if the Simpsons were wearing them.
The Simpsons' bodies were taken to a medical examiner's office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy.
Contributing: Daphne Chen
