Hiker Dies Near Quail Creek State Park: KSUB News Summary

A 56-year-old woman is dead after going on a trail near a state park in southwest Utah yesterday. Though there is no official cause of death yet, officials say it may be from a heat-related illness. Emergency crews responded after a hiker was reportedly in distress near Quail Creek State Park. Hurricane police say the hiker was found unresponsive and despite life-saving measures was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the woman's name. Park officials say the temperature was about 106 degrees at the time of the distress report. This fatal incident comes after two other high-profile heat-related cases at Utah outdoor spots this month.

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California Man Dies In Crash On I-70

Utah State troopers say a 67-year-old man from Orange, California, died in a collision on I-70 early on Sunday. Troopers say a driver of a semitruck was traveling eastbound when it left the highway and overcorrected to the left at about 5 a.m. The semitruck overturned and came to rest in the roadway, where an RV collided with it. Tracey Haeggstrom was in the front passenger seat of the RV and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the RV was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. Two other passengers in the RV were taken to the hospital, one with serious injuries and one with serious to critical injuries. The driver of the semitruck was booked into the Grand County Jail. Troopers say impairment is being investigated as a possible factor in the crash. No word yet on what charges may be filed.

Parole Board Changes Drug To Be Used In Honie Execution

State officials say they have selected a new drug to execute convicted murderer Taberon Honie. He is sentenced to death in connection with the murder of his ex-girlfriend's mother, Claudia Benn. Officials say they were first planning to try a never-before-used three-drug combination of ketamine, fentanyl and potassium chloride. Documents filed on July 7th show the Utah Department of Corrections has abandoned that cocktail which some say can cause excruciating pain in favor of a single dose of pentobarbital. Pentobarbital is a drug more commonly used for U.S. executions since 2010. Utah parole board officials are hearing testimony today to consider if they will spare the death penalty against Honie. He is asking to be imprisoned for life. The scheduled August 8th execution would be Utah's first a firing squad execution was held in 2010.

Democrats In Utah React To Biden Withdrawal

Members of the Utah Democratic Party are praising President Joe Biden after he announced yesterday that he will not run for reelection this fall. Party Chair Diane Lewis says Biden ranks high as a transformational president, speaking of his service and accomplishments. She cited his response to COVID-19, threats to reproductive freedoms and civil rights State Democrats say they remain committed to defeating Donald Trump in the 2024 election.