Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Editor's note: This story was updated Monday to include the deceased driver's name and add a link to the GoFundMe account for his family.
PARK CITY — A man died Thursday after he was ejected from the dump truck he was driving on the ramp from U.S. Highway 40 to I-80 in Summit County, authorities said.
The crash occurred at 11:37 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Utah Highway Patrol. The driver was the only person in the dump truck and no other vehicles were involved, UHP said.
The man was later identified by troopers as Howard T. Ama, 44, of West Valley City.
The dump truck was traveling west on U.S. 40 on the flyover ramp to westbound I-80, according to the release, and the roads were wet and slick from snowfall earlier in the morning.
Ama lost control of the truck, which swerved left and hit a concrete barrier, then swerved right and hit another barrier and partially rolled, according to the release.
Ama, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the truck and suffered fatal injuries, according to the release.
Happening now: Troopers are on scene of a fatal crash on the flyover from US 40 to I-80 in Summit County. Solo occupant/driver of this dump truck was ejected. No other vehicles involved. Additional details will follow. pic.twitter.com/lMyzFngvI7
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) November 21, 2019
The truck was hauling large, heavy landscaping rocks, according to UHP. Ama was possibly driving too fast for the weather conditions, and that combined with the weight of the truck and possible weight shift of the cargo in the truck may have contributed to the crash, UHP said.
The flyover ramp was closed for several hours as authorities investigated the crash.
A GoFundMe account was created* shortly after the accident to help pay for Ama's funeral expenses and other expenses his family will now have.
Contributing: Lauren Bennett, KSL.com
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.