Elberta, UT : Orem man died and another injured in an off-roading accident in southwest Utah County on Saturday evening, April 16, 2016

An Orem man died and another was injured Saturday evening in an off-roading accident in a remote area of southwest Utah County.

Two people were driving a Ford Explorer on a dirt trail up a steep, rugged hill less than 1 mile south of Chimney Rock Pass when the vehicle lost traction, started to slide and then rolled 150 to 200 yards down the hill, landing on its wheels.

The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene from serious injuries to his head and body, according to Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon. Police identified him as Forrest James McCombs, 21, of Orem.

The passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, was later taken by ambulance to Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Cannon said. Police identified him as Orem resident Braden Kocherhans, 21, who was the registered owner of the vehicle.

Witnesses who were nearby attempted to revive McCombs, but were unsuccessful.

Authorities were notified of the crash about 5:30 p.m., but the first responders weren't able to access the remote scene until almost 40 minutes later. An AirCare medical helicopter landed above the crash and dropped off a crew member. Police and other responders approached from below.

The crash occurred about seven miles north of Elberta and five miles west of state Route 68.

Many of the trails there are "barely" identifiable, Cannon said, though off-road travel is common in that area.

"It's very difficult to access. We can get our people pretty close to it, but we can't drive right to where the vehicle is and where the victim is," he said. "Some of (the trails) are just really rocky, lots of ruts, and ups and downs, and lots of risk."

Cannon said witnesses reported that McCombs and Kocherhans had been drinking alcohol earlier in the day. Deputies also found open containers of alcohol in the SUV, he said.

"My guess is speed was not a factor up there. That's not usually what causes the problems in situations like this. But we'll be investigating every possibility," he said.

Source :
1 dead, another injured in off-roading accident in Utah County