UTAH COUNTY — One man was killed and another man suffered injuries after an off-road crash in a rural area of Utah County Saturday, and police found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle.
According to Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, a medical helicopter was sent to the area of Chimney Rock Pass after the crash, which was first reported just before 6 p.m.
According to a press release, 21-year-old Forrest James McCombs of Orem was killed in the accident.
The owner of the vehicle told authorities he and McCombs were off-roading in an SUV on the BLM-managed land, which is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts. As McCombs was driving the SUV up a steep hill, the vehicle lost traction and slid sideways before rolling about 200 feet down the mountain and landing on its wheels.
Witnesses nearby attempted to revive McCombs, who suffered head and body injuries, but he was pronounced dead at the scene once medical personnel arrived.
Police say witnesses report that both men were drinking earlier in the day, and open containers of alcohol were located inside the SUV. Authorities are investigating to determine if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The crash was on a dirt road in a remote area of southwest Utah County, about 5 miles west of SR-68 from mile post 7.
FOX 13 News will update this story as more information emerges.
