FAIRFIELD, Utah County — One man was killed and three other people were injured this weekend in separate ATV crashes at the Fivemile Pass Recreation Area.
The crashes occurred as Bureau of Land Management officials say the area has seen large crowds in recent weekends.
“There’s probably about 2,000 people or so out in the Fivemile area out recreating today and all weekend, as there has been for the last two weekend,” said Matt Gochis, on officer with the Bureau of Land Management.
He urged people to keep the crowds in mind when they visit the area.
“I would just say it is very busy and to drive with caution, and not take those risks you would normally take,” Gochis said.
On Saturday about 7 p.m., a 25-year-old man was riding an ATV with a passenger, also in his 20s, when the off-road vehicle rolled, said Tooele County Sheriff’s Sgt. David Bleazard.
The driver was pronounced dead on scene, Bleazard said. His name was not immediately released.
The passenger was flown to a Salt Lake area hospital in serious condition.
What caused the ATV to roll remained under investigation Sunday.
The next crash occurred on Sunday about 12:30 p.m., when four people in a UTV took a corner too sharply and rolled the vehicle, Gochis said.
One passenger was ejected. She was flown to a hospital in critical condition with head and arm injuries.
Another passenger was taken by an ambulance to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately available.
The two others in the vehicle suffered minor injuries and did not require treatment, Gochis said.
The crowds at Fivemile Pass follow a statewide trend at recreation areas and state parks after Gov. Gary Herbert announced Utah’s State Parks would be open to all visitors after closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Saturday, at least three state parks — Sand Hollow, Gunlock and Quail Creek — closed midday because they were full.