SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A Duchesne family is mourning the loss of their 11 year old son. He was hit and killed by a semi truck Wednesday morning.
Dennis Weaver lost his life Wednesday on S.R. 87 in Duchesne. The Utah Highway Patrol told ABC 4 Weaver was riding his bike to the bus stop down the street at the same time two semi trucks were passing by.
"We imagine he probably looked back and saw one, but probably had his vision obscured by the first semi and couldn't see the second one," said Lt. Jeff Chugg, Utah Highway Patrol.
When Weaver tried to cross the road he got hit by the second truck. An x marks the spot where Weaver was hit. If you look at the road, you can see by the skid marks the truck driver was trying to brake and swerve out of the way. The driver hit the boy with such force, the bike gouged out several deep chunks of the road while it was being dragged under the truck. ABC is told the boy went airborne and eventually landed more than 200 feet from the point of impact. Emergency responders rushed him to the Uintah Basin Health Care Center in Roosevelt, but he died over an hour later.
Weaver was a 5th grader at Duchesne Elementary. His Principal told Reporter Brian Carlson Weaver was a good student and very friendly.
"He just loved life, he loved people, he really loved to make new friends," said Jason Young, Duchesne Elementary Principal.
So when the school heard Weaver died it was hard for students and teachers, as well as the Principal.
"We had a lot of counsellors come in. It was tough for me, because I felt real close to him, to our student who passed away here," said Young.
Weaver means so much to his family, right now sharing a photo of him, is all they have the strength to do.
His family is not only struggling emotionally, but they may have a hard time financially paying for his funeral. If you'd like to help, a trust fund has been set up in Dennis Weaver's name at Wells Fargo Bank.
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Follow Brian Carlson on Twitter: @tv_briancarlson
