By Marette McKnight
A Provo police officer hit and killed an Orem man Tuesday, January 9, 2007, as he attempted to cross University Avenue near 500 South.
Utah Highway Patrol trooper Preston Raban said 45-year-old Roy Wayne Taylor was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at approximately 8:30 p.m. when police Sgt. Donald Weidinger hit him going an estimated 35 mph. There was no stop light at the intersection.
Taylor was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo where he died. Raban said Taylor”s medical status report stated that alcohol was involved.
The Utah Highway Patrol will be leading the investigation as police protocol requires a separate agency to investigate an incident when a police officer is involved.
No charges have been brought against Weidinger at this point, although it is a possibility, Raban said. “We”re waiting on charges as we receive evidence in the investigation,” he said.
Raban said he does not know what those charges might be.
“It”s up in the air,” Raban said. “It is in the hands of the investigators.”
Two BYU students were eating dinner at a nearby Winger”s diner when the accident happened. Student Greg Cummings said he and his friend, Brandon Jensen, saw a police car pull up and the lights caught their attention.
“We just thought they were arresting a guy because he was just laying down,” Cummings said. “We started eating again, and the guy was still laying there. Then we thought ”Wait, he might be dead.” We didn”t know a car had hit him.”
There were no witnesses to the accident.
The accident was a tragedy for not only Taylor and his family and friends, but also for the Provo police department.
“Anytime something like this happens, you get the negativity of the public,” Raban said. “If it had been anyone besides a police officer it just would have been a tragedy, but since it was a sworn-in police officer, the Provo police will just be under the gun until they get some things clarified.”.
Provo police Lt. Rick Healey said Weidinger is on an administrative paid leave until the results of the investigation come in. Weidinger is expected to be back at work next week.
