Utah Varsity Scouts lift SUV off woman at scene of deadly crash

A group of five Varsity Scouts from the Utah National Parks Council lifted an SUV off a woman who had been pinned in a rollover crash Wednesday.

The 60-year-old woman, who later died at the hospital from her injuries, had an arm and a leg trapped under her Ford Explorer. When emergency personnel arrived, they asked anyone without first-aid training to leave.

But that’s when R.L. Peay, the Troop 839 leader who happens to be the first-aid certification director for the Utah National Parks Council, said he had some strong teenagers who could help.

“I told him I had five Varsity Scouts sitting in my van less than 100 feet from site of the crash who wanted to help,” Peay told KSL-TV. “They told me to bring the boys over.”

Varsity Scouts Adam Johnson, Ben Hale, Juston Peay, Jake Hirschi and Max Clements helped emergency personnel prop up the SUV long enough to get Sandoval out.

R.L. Peay spoke with pride about the young men and the lessons they’ve learned in Scouting.

“It brought tears to my eyes to see the faces of these 15- to 17-year-old boys as we lifted the SUV high enough off the ground and held it long enough, so the rescuer could pull her to safety. This is what Scouting is all about,” he said.

R.L. Peay and the Scouts said they’re praying for the woman’s family after their loss.

utah crash scouts


H/T: Thanks to John Duncan for sharing this story with me. Photos from Utah Highway Patrol and BSA.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.