This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I believe the Utah Highway Patrol made a wrong call when they excused the Boy Scouts from responsibility for downing a tree that caused the death of a 69-year-old Colorado man. This man was traveling on a public roadway, State Route 12.
I'm sure this wasn't the first time the Scout leader cut down a tree for firewood. So, was it worth sending it onto a public road, just to make picking up the wood easier? Why didn't he post lookouts along the roadway for possible traffic? More importantly, why did he not take responsibility for his actions.
This is a terrible lesson to teach the future leaders of America, the lesson that they don't have to be responsible for their actions.
Anna Florin
South Jordan