American Fork man has seizure, dies as truck hits tree

AMERICAN FORK — A man driving a truck for a Nephi rendering plant died Monday after he suffered a seizure, lost control and crashed into a large tree.

Police said the driver, Gary L. Phillips of American Fork, was partially ejected from the truck's cab, which was crushed nearly flat against the tree by the trailer, which was not carrying cargo.

"He hit the tree," said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Al Christianson, "but he still had the motion of the trailer."

Christianson said drivers following Phillips in the northbound lanes of I-15 were able to avoid being struck by the out-of-control truck.

The sergeant said witnesses told police that once the truck started to veer, the driver did not appear to steer or apply the brakes.

"It was a mystery to us for a while — the question of why it happened," Christianson said. "Then we were able to contact the family, and they told us he had a history of seizures."

Christianson said the truck was going about 65 mph when it barreled off the road and down an embankment before hitting the tree.

Chunks of bark fell to the ground, but the tree, one of a cluster of trees lining the western edge of a small park near 200 South and Center Street, remains standing.

No one else was injured in the 8:20 a.m. crash.

Kevin Kuhni, a top executive at John Kuhni Sons Inc., which recycles animal carcasses into soap, animal feed and other products, said Phillips left the Juab County plant for a job in Draper just after 8 a.m.

Less than a hour later, Kuhni received a phone call, alerting him of the accident. He said he was unaware Phillips had a medical condition that made him predisposed to seizures. Kuhni said Phillips was "a very proficient driver."

"This is a huge loss to our company," Kuhni said. "Gary was a great employee. He was well liked, well loved by both the employees and the people we do business with."

Kuhni's this month started operations in Juab County.

The state Board of Business and Economic Development in 2002 gave the company $1.8 million to move the plant from Provo, where neighbors complained of the plant's odors.

Provo also gave the company $3 million to help pay for the move. Kuhni's kicked in about about $1 million.

Kuhni said he spent some time Monday with Phillips' family.

The accident also caused major delays.

Although lanes were open in both directions, traffic from Lehi to Lindon slowed to a crawl for nearly two hours.

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E-mail: jeffh@desnews.com

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