The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office says a 911 caller reported the excavator had tipped into the upper Provo River around 11:30 a.m. on May 9. Wasatch Fire Battalion Chief R. L. Duke said firefighters from Wasatch County and South Summit responded.
“At the time, nobody knew where the operator was. He was later located in the excavator, and that's where he was recovered,” Duke told KPCW.
Authorities sent a medical helicopter but the sheriff’s office says the 60-year-old died at the scene.
The man had not been publicly identified as of May 13 and no official cause of death had been released.
Deputies are still trying to determine what caused the excavator to tip over.
Duke said no one else appeared to be involved. He said the man worked for a private contractor and was not an employee of Victory Ranch.
Utah Occupational Safety and Health is aware of the incident and investigating too, according to spokesperson Eric Olsen.
“The excavator was being operated by a private company performing bank stabilization work in the area at the time of the incident,” according to the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this tragic incident. We extend our deepest condolences during this difficult time.”
Victory Ranch did not respond to KPCW’s requests for comment Monday or Tuesday.
