On September 3rd, police were contacted by the family of David Welch and were informed that he had not returned home after leaving on the evening of September 2nd. State and other local law enforcement agencies were notified and a missing persons report was filed on September 6th.
The Riley County Police Department was contacted Friday (10/18) by the Utah Highway Patrol in reference to a single vehicle, fatality accident involving a maroon Pontiac Montana van Welch was last seen driving. Utah Highway Patrol positively identify the deceased driver as missing Manhattan resident David Welch. The accident occurred on I-70, approximately forty-seven miles west of Green River, Utah.
Welch left his home without explanation on September 2nd and did not express where he was going to friends or family. Evidence at the accident scene indicates it occurred on September 3 and was discovered by a hitchhiker on Friday while walking along the highway. The delayed discovery was due to the vehicle’s location at the bottom of a ravine.
Utah Highway Patrol is still actively investigating the accident to determine cause.
*Laura Monsanto and Eli Anderson contributed to this story
