HURRICANE, Utah — A 14-year-old boy died in Hurricane Wednesday night after he was hit by a truck.
Police later identified the teen as Gavin Pryor of Hurricane, and they said counseling will be offered for students of Hurricane High School, where Gavin attended. The counseling is scheduled to be available Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the school counseling office, though officials said the school will continue to offer support as long as the need exists.
Hurricane police said the teen was one of four juveniles who were walking along the east side of 700 West near 550 South when a northbound Toyota Tacoma approached the area.
Police said the driver of the Tacoma, a 26-year-old man, told them he had reached for some food just before the truck struck the victim. Emergency responders arrived around 10:47 and pronounced Gavin dead at the scene. According to a press release, the boy’s body will be taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Hurricane police and Utah Highway Patrol troopers spent several hours at the scene Thursday morning as they continued their investigation. Police said the driver of the Tacoma has been cooperative in their investigation.
“This is a very tragic situation for a 14 year old to lose his life. This is a reminder of the importance of constantly paying attention while driving and using a sidewalk when walking; it only takes seconds for a life altering incident to take place. Our hearts go out to the families involved,” police wrote in a news release.
