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SANTAQUIN — A 59-year-old Santaquin man was killed Friday evening when he was run over by a pickup truck that had been traveling at high speeds, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
The man has been identified as Kurt Lewis Provost, the sheriff's office said.
Around 5:10 p.m. deputies were dispatched to the scene on Chimney Rock Pass Road, about 3.5 miles west of Redwood Road in Santaquin, Cannon said in a press release. The area is popular for off-road enthusiasts and there were hundreds of people in the area at the time of the crash.
The victim had been in a pickup truck towing a trailer when he attempted to get the attention of a driver who was reportedly traveling at a high speed in a Toyota Tacoma pickup, Cannon said. Witnesses told deputies they saw the individual driving "recklessly" on the narrow, winding dirt road.
The driver swerved off the road to avoid the victim's truck, "but ran straight over him," launching the victim nearly 40 feet, Cannon said, causing extensive physical trauma on his head and body.
The man succumbed to his injuries before medical responders arrived on the scene.
59 year old Santaquin man killed in auto pedestrian crash on Chimney Rock Pass Rd. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended about 30 minutes later after he called dispatch to tell them where he was. Criminal charges are pending. https://t.co/x6cWPN2BMkpic.twitter.com/q0vKU5aOlp
— Utah County Sheriff (@UCSO) April 29, 2023
The driver of the Tacoma fled the scene and Saratoga Springs and Santaquin police went searching for him, Cannon said.
About thirty minutes later, the driver called the police and told them he was on Soldier Pass Road, about 8 miles north of where the man was hit and killed.
Deputies located the driver and took him into custody. The damage on the Tacoma matched what witnesses said occurred at the scene, Cannon said.
Police identified the driver Saturday as Andreu Pizzaro, 26, of Sandy. Pizarro was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, failure to remain at accident involving death and a DUI misdemeanor.
A judge has ordered Pizzaro to be held without bail, the sheriff's office said.
