A man riding a longboard down a hill in a Sandy neighborhood was killed early Wednesday when he was thrown from his skateboard and hit his head on the pavement.
Devon Vigil, 21, was longboarding with a friend near 2300 East and 9530 South just before 1 a.m. Vigil's girlfriend, Samantha Warren, was following the two in a car.
Moving about 30 mph, Vigil hit a manhole cover, causing his skateboard to stop, said Sandy Police Sgt. Victor Quezada. Vigil, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from his board.
After hitting his head, Virgil continued breathing while Warren called 911, but he eventually succumbed to his injuries. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
"I feel pretty much complete and utter disbelief," Warren said. "Even when they were covering him up with the sheet, and later at the hospital, it was unbelievable."
Police call the accident tragic but hope it might act as a reminder to others to practice standard safety rules.
Children and young adults are going to use skateboards, roller blades and what not, Quezada said.
"You've got to have the safety equipment in place. And you should do it in a controlled environment, a place where there is a smooth surface and no traffic," he said. "A helmet may not look cool, but it saves lives."
Talking through her tears Wednesday, Warren said she agrees with the police.
"You may think you're invincible," she said. "This was a hill (Vigil and his friend) have done at least 20 times. But always wear your helmet regardless of how invincible you think you are. It really will save your life."
Warren said that if Vigil had been wearing a helmet he would likely be hospitalized but would still be alive.
Police added that riders should take extra care at night and that those who ride their boards in the street are in danger of not only hurting themselves but being hit by a vehicle.
"You go up against a car, you're going to lose," Quezada said.
In June, 20-year-old Benjamin J. Delgado was killed when he tried to retrieve his skateboard from the street near 1300 E. Draper Parkway and was hit by a car.
In May, 5-year-old Jace Muir was riding a skateboard on his stomach down a driveway into the street in his South Jordan neighborhood when he was hit by a car. Jace lost three teeth, broke his jaw and was left with two staples in his head, but survived because he was wearing a helmet, according to police.
Contributing: Rebecca Palmer.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com