A Pleasant Grove couple died Wednesday afternoon when their truck slid on an icy road onto some railroad tracks in a remote area south of American Fork and was broadsided by a Southern Pacific freight train.
Killed in the accident were:Alan Rodger Hardy, 41.
Deanna T. Hardy, 45.
Utah County sheriff's investigators said the Hardys were driving west on 6400 North at about 3 p.m. when their 1995 Chevrolet supercab approached a marked rail crossing at about 5800 West. When the couple noticed a northbound train approaching, the driver braked, but the truck was unable to stop and slid several feet on the ice-packed road, coming to a stop in the middle of the tracks.
The driver quickly attempted to get the truck moving again but couldn't before being struck by the oncoming train.
Investigators said the truck was knocked about 200 feet down the east side of the tracks. The truck was demolished, and both victims were dead at the scene.
The train traveled another half-mile before coming to a stop, blocking another intersection north of the accident site for about two hours. Accident investigators plan to review the train's recording device to determine the speed of the train and time of the accident.
The accident occurred on a seldom-traveled road west of I-15 near the American Fork Boat Harbor and the Timpanogos Special Service District's water treatment plant.