Over the weekend, a Utah father and his 16-year-old daughter were tragically killed when a bulldozer fell on top of the pickup truck they were in. Richard David Hendrickson, CEO and president of outdoor furniture company Lifetime Products, and his daughter, Sally, died in the freak accident near Ogden Canyon, according to a press release from the Utah Highway Patrol.
Reportedly, the fatal accident occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Saturday when a tow truck carrying a mini bulldozer attempted to maneuver a steep right-hand curve on the highway, causing the cargo to break free and plunge toward Henderson’s GMC pickup truck. Henderson and Sally were pronounced dead on the scene, where two other adult passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Lifetime Products released a statement mourning the loss of their chief executive. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic and sudden passing of our CEO and President, Richard David Hendrickson in a car accident today in Ogden Canyon. This heartbreaking incident also claimed the life of one of his daughters, Sally. His wife and two of their other children sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the accident. Another daughter was traveling overseas and was not in the vehicle,” the statement read.
Beyond his inspiring leadership at Lifetime, the outdoor furniture company further illustrated how Henderson was an upstanding citizen overall. The statement praised the father’s aptitude in a broad range of disciplines but ultimately focused on Henderson’s ability to build caring and respectful relationships with people.
“Richard was more than a company leader – he was also a visionary and a friend to many within our business and the wider community. He is well-known for having a uniquely broad and extensive set of talents and interests. His mechanical aptitude is legendary, often surprising the engineers throughout the company. He also excelled in finance, management, and sales. Above all this, though, was his caring focus on people, both within Lifetime and among its vendors and suppliers. He was truly special in his ability to respectfully engage others, regardless of their position or level within the supply chain. His ability to connect with people bound all of his other talents together in a very special way,” the statement added.
“Richard started as a welder and progressed through multiple levels of the company to become President and CEO due to his extraordinary talents and abilities. He was one of my most trusted and cherished friends and will be sorely missed. Lifetime will not be the same without him. My love and heartfelt sympathy go out to his dear family,” per a statement from Barry Mower, Founder of Lifetime Products.
The company statement further highlighted Henderson’s community involvement, painting him as a model local citizen. “His unwavering dedication and passion were instrumental in driving Lifetime Products’ success and growth. His loss leaves us with an immense void in our company and an even bigger crater in our hearts. In addition to his business responsibilities, Richard was also a Stake President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Ogden Utah Pleasant Valley Stake. He loved serving the people in that area and will also be deeply missed there,” he said.
“During this time of mourning, our thoughts and prayers are with Richard’s family and his many, many friends. Details regarding memorial services will be shared once they are available. In honoring Richard’s legacy, Lifetime remains steadfast in upholding the values and commitment he exemplified during his over 36 year career,” the message concluded.
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