St. George Man Killed in Auto Accident while in Orem for Granddaughter’s Pageant

Orem Accident 7-20-11 | Photo by Orem Department of Public Safety, St. George News

OREM – At 1:35 p.m. July 20, Gordon Olds was driving his Ford Explorer westbound on 800 North in Orem, when he apparently ran a red light at the intersection of 800 North and 800 East, involving three cars in a traffic accident, including his own.  The others were a brown SUV stopped at the red light heading eastbound on 800 North, the other a silver van moving southbound on 800 East, which broadsided Olds’ Explorer when he entered the intersection.

For Olds, the accident proved fatal.

Sgt. Craig Martinez, Public Information Officer for the Orem Department of Public Safety, said Olds was treated at the scene but died a short time thereafter at the local hospital.

Martinez said he believes Olds was in Orem for some sort of pageant for his granddaughter.

Olds had two passengers in his vehicle, one being his 15-year-old granddaughter and the other a young girl, a family friend; both passengers being juveniles, their names are withheld.

Olds’ granddaughter “was treated on scene, was walking around with complaints of stomach pains, taken to a local hospital and released,” said Martinez.  He said the family friend was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition, possibly having surgery in a few days for fractured vertebrae.

Based on several witness reports, Martinez said that Olds is determined to be the primary contributor to the accident.  He said that according to witnesses, when Olds’ vehicle was impacted by the silver van, his explorer landed on top of the hood of the brown SUV.  Martinez said that several witnesses went and were able to push Olds’ Explorer off of the brown SUV and tried to get the passengers out, without success.

“The two drivers, of the silver and brown, were treated and released,” said Martinez.

It is not believed that speed was a factor in the accident and there is no suspicion of alcohol or drugs related to the accident.  No charges are anticipated.

Martinez said that Olds’ family is in Orem in attendance at this time.  “It is always unfortunate to have to investigate these types of things,” he said.

 

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