This weekend we have lost a great friend, mentor, husband, father, and son. Claye Robb was "my bishop" and I will always be thankful for the impact he has had on my life. He will be greatly missed, and my condolences to his sweet family.
VERNAL — The Uintah County Sheriff's Department said Sunday that investigators don't believe drug or alcohol use was a contributing factor in the auto-pedestrian crash that killed Claye Robb, a long-time softball coach at Uintah High School.
Robb, 48, was hit by a pickup truck Friday at around 9:30 p.m. as he was walking about two miles from his home, sheriff's Cpl. Brian Fletcher said.
"We don't suspect any alcohol or drugs at all," Fletcher said. "Sadly enough, this just looks like a real tragic accident. She just didn't see the gentleman and never knew she hit him."
Robb was struck by a 24-year-old Vernal woman who then drove her truck into a power pole. A passing motorist contacted authorities, who believed they were responding to a crash involving only property damage.
When deputies arrived, however, they discovered Robb. He died at the scene.
"We believe he was just on a walk, but due to the circumstances, we're probably never going to know exactly where he was when he was hit — on the side of the road or crossing the road," Fletcher said. He noted that the crash occurred in a rural area of the county and that the streetlights were on the opposite side of the road from where Robb's body was found.
Fletcher said the sheriff's department is still not releasing the name of the driver.
"She's really struggling with this," he said. "She knew the victim; most of us did."
Robb was hired as head coach of the Uintah Ute softball team in February 2007, but had been an assistant coach for a number of years before that. He was also a Boy Scout leader and was recently called to serve as a member of the stake presidency in the Glines Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Uintah High Vice Principal Kevin Dickson, a former coach at the school himself, said Robb was a great mentor for youth, both on and off the field.
"He could get the best out of kids," Dickson said. "He expected his kids to have a work ethic, but his work ethic — he was a great example. He worked very, very hard."
Robb coached the Utes to a first-place finish last season in Region 10 and a berth in the 3-A state playoffs with a relatively young team that lost only one senior to graduation. Dickson said there was a lot of anticipation for what this year's team would do.
But as respected as Robb was for his accomplishments on the softball field, Dickson said the true mark of his success as a man was the way he raised his children.
"All you have to do is look at his kids. His kids are just incredible ... they're all so delightful," said Dickson, adding later, "To me, (Robb's death) is still not reality."
Uintah High Principal Julie Wilde said she has already contacted the school's counselors in preparation for the resumption of classes Monday. She said the school district superintendent has authorized her to call in additional counselors from Vernal's junior high and middle schools, if necessary.
Wilde said Robb wasn't a classroom teacher at Uintah, like most of the school's coaches, but that "didn't seem to hinder Claye's ability to work with our school or our kids."
He was in the school often, she said. "It felt like he was part of our staff."
A memorial service for Robb is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Glines Stake Center, 475 W. 100 South in Vernal
VERNAL — The Uintah County Sheriff's Department said Sunday that investigators don't believe drug or alcohol use was a contributing factor in the auto-pedestrian crash that killed Claye Robb, a long-time softball coach at Uintah High School.
Robb, 48, was hit by a pickup truck Friday at around 9:30 p.m. as he was walking about two miles from his home, sheriff's Cpl. Brian Fletcher said.
"We don't suspect any alcohol or drugs at all," Fletcher said. "Sadly enough, this just looks like a real tragic accident. She just didn't see the gentleman and never knew she hit him."
Robb was struck by a 24-year-old Vernal woman who then drove her truck into a power pole. A passing motorist contacted authorities, who believed they were responding to a crash involving only property damage.
When deputies arrived, however, they discovered Robb. He died at the scene.
"We believe he was just on a walk, but due to the circumstances, we're probably never going to know exactly where he was when he was hit — on the side of the road or crossing the road," Fletcher said. He noted that the crash occurred in a rural area of the county and that the streetlights were on the opposite side of the road from where Robb's body was found.
Fletcher said the sheriff's department is still not releasing the name of the driver.
"She's really struggling with this," he said. "She knew the victim; most of us did."
Robb was hired as head coach of the Uintah Ute softball team in February 2007, but had been an assistant coach for a number of years before that. He was also a Boy Scout leader and was recently called to serve as a member of the stake presidency in the Glines Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Uintah High Vice Principal Kevin Dickson, a former coach at the school himself, said Robb was a great mentor for youth, both on and off the field.
"He could get the best out of kids," Dickson said. "He expected his kids to have a work ethic, but his work ethic — he was a great example. He worked very, very hard."
Robb coached the Utes to a first-place finish last season in Region 10 and a berth in the 3-A state playoffs with a relatively young team that lost only one senior to graduation. Dickson said there was a lot of anticipation for what this year's team would do.
But as respected as Robb was for his accomplishments on the softball field, Dickson said the true mark of his success as a man was the way he raised his children.
"All you have to do is look at his kids. His kids are just incredible ... they're all so delightful," said Dickson, adding later, "To me, (Robb's death) is still not reality."
Uintah High Principal Julie Wilde said she has already contacted the school's counselors in preparation for the resumption of classes Monday. She said the school district superintendent has authorized her to call in additional counselors from Vernal's junior high and middle schools, if necessary.
Wilde said Robb wasn't a classroom teacher at Uintah, like most of the school's coaches, but that "didn't seem to hinder Claye's ability to work with our school or our kids."
He was in the school often, she said. "It felt like he was part of our staff."
A memorial service for Robb is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Glines Stake Center, 475 W. 100 South in Vernal
3 comments:
Im so sorry....we are praying for you and their family
We are so sorry. It is always hard to lose someone so young. we never know when the lord wants us to come home. All we can do is prepare ourselves the best we can for when it may happen. Lots of love...The Mitchells
keish I know you were close to the robb family. I'm so sorry for you and your families loss as well as the Robb's family. My prayers and thougts are with you guys.
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