A Utah family mourns the loss of loved ones after a tragic accident involving a construction worker who vanished and a father and daughter killed in a bulldozer crash.
In a cruel twist of fate, two separate tragedies have shaken Utah, leaving families devastated and communities in mourning. Justin Hooiman, a hardworking construction worker, has vanished without a trace, while a beloved father and his 16-year-old daughter were killed when a bulldozer fell on their vehicle.
Justin Hooiman, a 35-year-old construction worker from Salt Lake City, was last seen on Monday, April 11, 2023. According to his mother, Angela Hooiman, Justin had planned to meet her at a Chipotle restaurant for lunch but never showed up.
Tragic Loss: Utah Construction Worker and Business Leader's Family Killed in Fatal Accident
"He was going to meet me at Chipotle, and he didn't show up," Angela said, her voice filled with anguish. "I kept calling him, and he wasn't answering."
Justin's phone and wallet were found in his truck, which was parked at the construction site where he had been working earlier that day. There have been no signs of Justin since then, and his disappearance has baffled authorities and his family.
Tragic Loss: Utah Construction Worker and Business Leader's Family Killed in Fatal Accident
"We don't know where he is," Angela said. "We're just living day by day, hour by hour, hoping that someone will find him."
In a separate incident, a father and daughter from Utah were killed when a bulldozer fell on top of their truck over the weekend. Richard David Hendrickson, 57, and his 16-year-old daughter, Sally, were driving on Highway 89 in Ogden Canyon when tragedy struck.
Tragic Loss: Utah Construction Worker and Business Leader's Family Killed in Fatal Accident
A tow truck carrying a mini bulldozer encountered a steep right-hand curve, causing the bulldozer to break free and slide towards the Hendrickson's GMC pickup. Richard and Sally were pronounced dead at the scene, while two other adult passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
"It's a terrible tragedy," said Sergeant Cade Brenchley of the Utah Highway Patrol. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims."
Tragic Loss: Utah Construction Worker and Business Leader's Family Killed in Fatal Accident
Richard Hendrickson was the CEO and president of Lifetime Products, a well-known outdoor furniture company. In a statement, the company remembered him as "more than a company leader" but also "a visionary and a friend."
"Richard was a unique individual with a broad range of talents and interests," the company said. "He was a mechanical wizard, excelled in finance, management, and sales, but above all, he had a caring focus on people."
In addition to his successful business career, Richard Hendrickson was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a stake president.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his condolences to the Hendrickson family, saying, "Richard was a friend and incredible leader."
"We mourn with the surviving members of his family and pray they will find comfort and healing," Cox said.
As the families of Justin Hooiman and Richard and Sally Hendrickson grapple with their immense loss, the community rallies together, offering support and prayers in their time of need. In the face of such tragedy, hope persists that Justin will be found and that the Hendrickson family will find solace in their memories of their loved ones.
