03/22/2016
Easter weekend always makes for a busy weekend for the Sheriff’s department because most residents in Carbon and Emery Counties will make a trek out to the desert, to areas like the San Rafael swell, Buckhorn and Cedar Mountain as their first camping trip of the year.
Other residents head further south to the annual Jeep Safari in Moab, where the crowds have grown with each year. That is why neighboring law enforcement officers lend a hand to assist Grand County during one of the busiest weekends of the event. “We are sending two Deputy Sheriffs, Brandon Wilson and Rory Bradley, will be down there, we’re going to send a rhino and truck, they’ll be helping Grand County out,” said Wood. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Jeep Safari.
Residents out camping and riding their ATVs/UTVs are urged to practice safety during the holiday weekend, because traffic on trails and roads are extremely busy than usual. “Remember to wear your helmet if you’re going to ride the ATV make sure you have your helmet on. Careful on the paved roads, I know we have ordinances in Price City you can ride to gas stations and trail heads but just keep in mind that those tires on those machines are not made for the pavement and they kind of grab different and you do run a risk to flip over on the paved roads if you aren’t careful,” stated Wood. The most important safety rule for riders to remember is to never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Operators of ATVs/UTVs are advised to not carry more than the required passengers for their machine to prevent offsetting the balance with more riders could cause a wreck. “Another thing is UTVs, if you’re riding in your UTV one of the most common causes of injuries is people not wearing their seatbelts. Those UTVs are generally made to hold up in a roll over, most of them the roll cages will hold up, have your seatbelt on stay inside it that’s what it’s made for you to do,” said Wood. Parents should make sure that they are supervising their children while operating a machine and that the appropriate size of machine fits the child’s needs.
Wood finished by saying, “Easters here, Happy Easter, everyone be safe. I hope we can have a safe and happy Easter and no injuries this year.”
Next up for Wood and his department are will be the Cops and Bobbers, Badges and Blades Kids Day on Saturday, May 14th at the Carbon County Event Center and Fairgrounds Fishing Pond from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This event is hosted by the Kiwanis Club, Carbon County Sheriff’s office and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Wood will discuss further details as the event gets closer.