ENTERPRISE — An Ivins man is dead Saturday after the pickup truck he was driving veered off the highway and rolled in Enterprise and lifesaving measures proved ineffective.
Quentin Ence, 78, of Ivins, appears to have been westbound on state Route 18 approaching the highway’s junction with Main Street in Enterprise, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said.
“The vehicle left the roadway to the left, went through the fence …,” Mower said. “And then the driver steered and kind of paralleled the fence a little bit and then steered to the left; and the vehicle rolled.”
At approximately 7:45 a.m., law enforcement and emergency response personnel were notified of the single vehicle rollover. On arrival at the accident scene, they discovered a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup on its side in a field on the south side of SR 18 and just east of Heritage Park.
Enterprise Fire Chief Brenden Moody said the driver’s compartment was crushed and they had to use Jaws of Life to remove the patient.
Emergency personnel initially found Ence with no pulse, but as they worked to remove him they were able to detect a faint pulse. However, Moody said, by the time he was removed from the Dodge, no pulse was detected and responders began CPR.
After approximately 20 minutes of CPR, Moody said, Ence was pronounced dead on scene at 8:25 a.m.
“It’s suspected that there may have been a medical condition going on, but I can’t confirm that at this time,” Mower said. “We do have the medical examiner’s office is going to conduct an investigation and they’ll let us know what their findings are; but it does sound like there may have been a medical issue prior to the vehicle leaving the roadway.”
Tire tracks led from SR-18 off an embankment on the south side of the highway, leading through a smashed fence and then ran parallel with the fence before veering left through the open field. From where the tracks left the road to the final location of the Dodge appeared to be 300-400 feet.
Heavy rain did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Mower said, adding that witnesses reported the Dodge was traveling at normal speeds and appeared to veer off the road.
Ence was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, Mower said. Airbags were not deployed.
Intermountain Healthcare Life Flight was dispatched toward the scene but returned to base when lifesaving efforts failed.
UHP responded to the incident with two troopers, Washington County Sheriff’s Office with two deputies and Enterprise Fire and EMS with about 15 personnel.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Pickup truck uprighted after a morning rollover off state Route 18 that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old Ivins man. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News From where the tracks left the road to the final location of a Dodge pickup truck involved in a fatal rollover Saturday morning appeared to be 300-400 feet. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News Pickup truck uprighted after a morning rollover off state Route 18 that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old Ivins man. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News Emergency responder stands in the field where a Dodge pickup track landed after rolling off state Route 18 Saturday morning. The driver and sole occupant of the truck died at the scene. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News Pickup truck uprighted after a morning rollover off state Route 18 that resulted in the death of the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 78-year-old Ivins man. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News Emergency responders with the Dodge pickup track that rolled off state Route 18 Saturday morning. The driver and sole occupant of the truck, a 78-year-old Ivins man, died at the scene. Enterprise, Utah, April 9, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News
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