Two dead after ‘mini-bulldozer’ falls on pickup, Utah officials say

Two people lost their lives over the weekend when a piece of equipment fell off of a tow truck and struck a pickup.

According to the Utah Department of Public Safety (UtahDPS), the incident occurred on July 6, 2024, at approximately 12:49 p.m. in Ogden Canyon.

Authorities say that a tow truck was hauling a mini-bulldozer east on SR-39 near mile marker 9. While negotiating a right hand curve, the bulldozer “broke free, sliding off the driver’s side.”

A GMC pickup truck was westbound on SR-39 while towing a boat.

The bulldozer landed on top of the pickup.

Two Utah residents, Richard Hendrickson, 57, and a 16 year old female, died at the scene. The two were father and daughter.

Two adults were transported to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

In the wake of the accident, thousands of people have signed an online petition asking Utah officials to restrict certain commercial vehicles from the roadway.

The petition reads:

Ogden Canyon, the narrow, two-lane passageway connecting Ogden Valley with the city of Ogden, serves as a lifeline for many citizens in Weber County, UT. Flanked by the Ogden River on one side and steep mountain cliffs on the other, this precarious piece of infrastructure is a nerve-wracking daily commute for families and young drivers traveling to school and other essential destinations. 

With the canyon passage offering little to no shoulder width in places, certain large vehicles pose a substantial risk to commuters’ safety. Therefore, we are raising this petition to enforce regulation on the types of vehicles permitted on Highway 39 that transverses the heart of Ogden Canyon. There is an urgent need to limit the particular categories of vehicles that can drive through this constricted roadway, ensuring the security of all who rely on it.

Understanding the economic considerations, we advocate for a balanced approach, allowing commercial vehicles that are safe under these trail conditions, but restricting others that pose a too significant risk.