SALT LAKE CITY — Emergency crews responded to the scene of a fatal crash Wednesday after an elderly man driving a red truck crossed into oncoming lanes, moved onto a sidewalk, and then rolled the vehicle.
The crash occurred Wednesday afternoon in the area of 3300 South and 1900 East. FOX 13 News first heard reports of the crash just after 4 p.m.
Ken Hansen, Unified Police Department, said a truck being driven by an 84-year-old man was traveling eastbound on 3300 South when for an unknown reason he moved into the westbound lanes and then onto the sidewalk.
The truck struck debris or an object of some kind while on the sidewalk, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to roll. The truck came to rest upright on its wheels.
Hansen said the crash occurred very near a Unified Fire Department station and that firefighters immediately went outside to render aid, but were not able to save the man.
Hansen said it is not clear what caused the man to leave the eastbound lanes. He said based on the nature of the crash they believe if the man had been wearing a seat belt then he might have walked away with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The victim has so far been identified only as an 84-year-old man from Salt Lake County, and officials said his identity will not be released until his family has been notified. Police originally reported the man’s age as 70 but later corrected that information.
There were no reports of other injuries.
The crash is under investigation, and FOX 13 News will have more information as it becomes available.
