Freak Bulldozer Accident Kills Utah Father, Teenage Daughter

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Accidents are always unfortunate, but when they involve death, particularly of someone young, they become so much more tragic. That was the outcome of a freak accident involving a bulldozer falling off a tractor-trailer in a Utah mountain canyon on July 6, claiming the life of a high-profile CEO and his 16-year-old daughter.

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According to Utah Highway Patrol, Richard Hendrickson, CEO of Lifetime Products, and his teenage daughter Sally were both pronounced dead on the scene after a mini bulldozer broke free of its restraints and tumbled over the driver’s side of the trailer.

Hendrickson was driving his GMC Sierra with a boat in tow going in the opposite direction, both vehicles going through a curve in Ogden Canyon on SR-39 when the heavy machinery landed on top of the pickup truck.

In other words, there was probably nothing Hendrickson could’ve done to prevent the accident. He might not have even seen the mini bulldozer falling until it was too late to react, if he saw it at all.

Two adult passengers in the GMC were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators closed down the entire highway in both directions to conduct a thorough investigation.

The tragic accident has reignited debates on two topics: trucks not properly securing their loads and whether or not SR-39 in Ogden Canyon is too dangerous for anyone to drive.

Since an investigation into what happened is still ongoing, we can’t say for sure if the mini bulldozer was properly secured or not. However, we do know some commercial drivers, let alone regular citizens, don’t understand how to properly secure particularly heavy loads. They often use insufficient straps and tie-down points, believing it will be enough to keep what they’re transporting from falling onto the highway.

But when the straps fail, accidents like this happen.

As for Ogden Canyon, if you’ve driven through it you know why some say it’s far too dangerous. Even in clear summer weather the turns can be tricky to negotiate. The fact some drivers go too fast for conditions doesn’t help.

Plus, the only thing dividing traffic in most of the canyon is a painted line, making crossover accidents too common. Some want to see the road widened and a hard median divider added.

Our hearts go out to the Hendrickson family for their loss and we hope it isn’t in vain.

Images via Utah Highway Patrol

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