Motorcyclist Dies After Crashing Into Falling Tree Felled by Boy Scouts

A man riding a motorcycle near Boulder, Utah, died Saturday after crashing into a tree Boy Scouts had cut down for firewood just moments before.

The Scouts felled the Aspen tree at about 12:40 p.m. That's when 69-year-old Edgar E. Rickie of Durango, Colorado was traveling north on his motorcycle along state Route 12 and crashed into the tree as it was falling, Joe Dougherty, spokesman for Utah Highway Patrol said, St. George News reported.

A passerby called 911 but a doctor who was with the Boy Scouts pronounced Rickie dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, investigators said.

A Utah Department of Public Safety press release states the man "was traveling north on state Route 12 in Garfield County when he crashed into a falling aspen tree. The tree had been felled by a group of Boy Scouts with a permit for cutting down trees for firewood. It appears to investigators that this was a case of unfortunate timing."

Dougherty told local media that the Garfield County Attorney will decide if the Boy Scouts should have set up any cones or warning signs given the tree's close proximity to the road.

Man crashes his motorcycle into tree Boy Scouts felled moments before, Oct. 11, 2014. (Image source: Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News)

Man crashes his motorcycle into tree Boy Scouts felled moments before, Oct. 11, 2014. (Image source: Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News)

Man crashes his motorcycle into tree Boy Scouts felled moments before, Oct. 11, 2014. (Image source: Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News)

Man crashes his motorcycle into tree Boy Scouts felled moments before, Oct. 11, 2014. (Image source: Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News)

(H/T: St. George News)

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