Traffic accidents claim lives of Price motorist, Huntington youngster

By Sun Advocate

Traffic accidents on July 25 and July 22 claimed the lives of a Price businessman and a Huntington child.
On Tuesday, 50-year-old Gregory E. Fausett died when the northbound vehicle he was driving reportedly crossed the southbound travel lane at approximately 7:57 a.m. and exited the west side of Utah State Road 10 at milepost 63.
After exiting SR-10, Fausett’s 1996 Ford Windstar crossed the stream and collided into the northern embankment of the creek, pointed out Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Lacy during an interview on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim had succumbed to injuries apparently incurred in the collision before the UHP trooper arrived at the single vehicle accident scene.
The preliminary investigation into the July 25 incident indicates Fausett may have been drowsy or may have fallen asleep at the steering wheel, explained the UHP trooper.
Law enforcement personnel investigating the accident scene apparently found no skid marks on the pavement and no signs indicating that the Price man had swerved to avoid striking an obstacle on the highway or attempted to correct the Windstar’s direction of travel.
Eyewitnesses statements collected from motorists following Fausett’s northbound vehicle on SR-10 when the Ford crossed the center line and exited the highway appeared to support the findings of the preliminary investigation conducted by law enforcement authorities at the scene of the July 25 accident, noted the UHP trooper.
The final determination regarding the factors contributing to Tuesday’s fatal mishap will be established by the results of the followup investigation into the incident, added the UHP trooper.
On July 22 at approximately 9:15 p.m., 6-year-old Jedidiah Murray incurred fatal injuries after purportedly being struck by a pickup truck on 100 South in Huntington, confirmed Deputy Casey Alton on Tuesday.
The Huntington youth died from severe head trauma on July 23 at 11:44 a.m.
The fatal auto-pedestrian accident reportedly occurred near 400 East when the young bicyclist pulled into the intersection and was struck by a full-size 1981 Chevrolet K-10 pickup operated by 28-year-old Roy Day, pointed out the Emery County Sheriff’s Office representative.
The Elmo motorist’s 6-year-old stepson was apparently a passenger in the truck when the Chevy struck Murray.
After conducting the preliminary investigation into the incident, Emery County law enforcement officials determined that suspected drug and/or alcohol involvement on the part of the driver of the pickup truck may have contributed to the fatal accident.
Emery law enforcement officials subsequently booked Day into the county jail on related charges, where the suspect was detained without bail, concluded Alton.
The incident reports compiled by law enforcement personnel investigating the July 22 traffic accident will be forwarded to the Emery County Attorney’s Office for review.
The state’s prosecutor’s office will screen the evidence and decide whether formal criminal charges will be filed against Day in connection with the youngster’s death.