A Wendover Fun Bus driver was killed and a half a dozen passengers seriously injured in an horrific accident with an auger truck Monday afternoon 30 miles east of Wendover.
The Fun Bus driver Pita Asiata, 53, of Bountiful was impaled and died of his wounds when he rear ended the auger truck forcing the post holer through his body.
According to UHP Lt. Corey Nye, the Le Bus tour bus was headed east out of Wendover, carrying about 50 passengers. A couple of maintenance trucks working on building barriers were slowing down in the left-hand lane and turning into the median, Nye said.
“The first vehicle began to slow. The bus was unable to stop, (and) they collided,” Nye said. “The force pushed the truck to where you see it at this point.”
An auger on the back of the maintenance truck crashed through the bus’ windshield and into the driver’s seat, impaling the driver, who died at the scene.
According to one of the men in that maintenance crew, their trucks had their hazard lights on and should have been visible, especially since it was still daylight at the time.
“The bus swerved out of the right lane to pass a car,” said Brady Warnock, who witnessed the accident to the Salt Lake Tribune. “I guess they didn’t notice the brake lights or anything, and smacked into the back of the drill truck. I heard the tires squealing, which was a little scary.”
Three bus passengers were taken to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. Two other passengers, who were sitting behind the bus driver, had more serious injuries and were flown to the hospital in critical condition.
None of the people in the maintenance truck were hurt.
The uninjured bus passengers were put on another bus, and they headed back to Salt Lake City at about 9 p.m.
State troopers were still investigating the scene Monday night to determine who was at fault in this crash. The left lane of eastbound I-80 remained closed during that investigation.
Le Bus operates daily trips to Wendover charging a nominal fee to Salt Lake area gamblers.
Asiata was the father of Minnesota Vikings and former University of Utah running back Matt Asiata.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Pita Asiata, the father of Matt and Shawn Asiata. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Matt, Shawn and their entire family as they go through this extremely difficult time,” University of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement released to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Matt and his brother Shawn played college football at Utah.
