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ST. GEORGE — On the crisp morning of Jan. 16, 2006, Matt Blanchard's life took an unexpected turn on a rain-soaked road.
Blanchard, a 30-year-old electrical contractor at the time, began his journey across St. George to pick up one of his employees, Brett Bastrop.
Distracted and in a hurry, he didn't buckle his seat belt.
"Brett jumped in the cab of my truck, pointed at me and said 'Matt, put your seat belt on,'" Blanchard told St. George News.
But being young and feeling invincible, Blanchard said, he ignored him.
On their drive to Cedar City, the rainy weather soon turned to snow. And for a second time, Bastrop told Blanchard to buckle up.
"I gave him all the reasons why I didn't need to wear a seat belt," Blanchard said. "I'm 6-foot-2, 215 pounds; a mountain of muscle in the best shape of my life. I said 'Brett, I'm your boss. I'm 30. You're 19. Don't tell me what to do.'"
Then, the snow turned into complete whiteout conditions. This time Bastrop begged Blanchard: Put on your seat belt.
