A high-speed motorcycle accident claimed the lives of a local man and woman early Friday morning on Highway 6 entering Wellington.
The two had been involved in a high-speed pursuit with Price City Police Officers and Carbon County Sheriff’s Deputies, but the pursuit had been terminated by law enforcement because of concerns for safety when speeds exceeded 134 mph.
County Sheriff’s Captain Guy Adams said the bodies of the two were found at approximately 3:20 a.m. after Union Pacific notified dispatch that they had discovered a body near the railroad tracks on the west side of Wellington. “Initial investigations revealed the driver of the motorcycle failed to negotiate the turn leading into Wellington,” Adams reported.
The Captain dismissed early reports that a train had run over one of the bodies as rumor. He also revealed the incident was made even harder for some deputies who knew one of the people who was killed. Counseling has been offered to those involved.
Adams said the tragic events began when the Price City Police reported a bullet bike traveling at a high rate of speed on Main Street in Price. At approximately 2 a.m., officers located the motorcycle and attempted a stop on 100 North.В When the driver did not yield, a pursuit began.
Carbon County deputies responded to assist the pursuit that continued through North Price with speeds exceeding 95 mph. Officers lost sight of the motorcycle at 800 North. Deputies then spotted the bike traveling southbound on Cedar Hills Drive. They pursued the motorcycle through Smith’s parking lot.
The pursuit continued onto Highway 55, then onto Highway 6 with speeds in excess of 100 mph. The motorcycle continued to accelerate, with speeds measured at 134 mph, before the chase was terminated because of concerns for safety.
Deputies turned off lights and sirens and continued in the direction of travel as the vehicle sped away eastbound on Highway 6. Law enforcement continued the search, but had no success. It was near that time that the call from Union Pacific was received.
The Utah Highway patrol was then notified, and they completed the traffic accident investigation.
The names of the man and woman who were killed have not been released as the Sheriff’s Office continues to notify family members. The bodies were taken to a local mortuary.