BRIANA SCROGGINS, Standard Examiner file photo
Mountains are reflected in Pineview Reservoir on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Weber County.
A man is dead after driving his vehicle down an embankment and crashing into Pineview Reservoir Thursday evening.
Utah Highway Patrol authorities told the Standard-Examiner they received several calls reporting a reckless driver in the area around Ogden Valley, starting Thursday around 4 p.m. Officers were dispatched to attempt to intercept the vehicle; however, snowy conditions prevented them from reaching it before a witness saw the car plunge into the reservoir approximately 30 minutes later.
Weber County Search and Rescue officers were dispatched to conduct a water recovery from the body, as well as the vehicle.
The Weber County Sheriff's Office told the Standard-Examiner the process was difficult because rescuers had to traverse the 30- to 40-foot embankment to get down to the reservoir, much of which was covered in ice. Divers were helped to reach the vehicle area by technical climbers and a rope system.
An airboat was also used to help rescuers cross the icy reservoir to reach the body and vehicle, which were pulled from the water by a tow truck.
The identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed by authorities. Neither is the root cause of the accident or incidents leading up to it. Investigations into this matter are ongoing in several jurisdictions.
Authorities are investigating whether the driver intentionally entered the tank.
“This will be part of our investigation,” the sergeant said. UHP's Cameron Roden told the Standard-Examiner. “I don’t know if they’ve come to that conclusion yet. But that will be something we look at.
Police confirmed the same vehicle was involved in a “minor” hit-and-run in the area of 12th Street and Harrison Boulevard, striking another vehicle before continuing east on State Route 39 toward 'Ogden Canyon.
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