SAND MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, Utah – A 13-year-old boy from Parker was killed Wednesday following a UTV accident in Utah, a post from Utah State Parks stated Thursday.
Malachi King-Castro, 13, was riding a UTV in the back seat when the accident occurred in the Sand Mountain Recreation Area, according to the post. While he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Utah State Park officials do not believe he was wearing a helmet.
He sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
King-Castro would have been an eighth grader at Sierra Middle School this fall, according to a letter sent to parents by Darrell Meredith, the principal of the school.
“This is a tragic loss and our hearts go out to Malachi’s family and friends. I felt it was important to connect with all of our families at this time, as the Sierra family and Douglas County School District communities are deeply saddened by this loss,” Meredith wrote.