Richard Adams lived long enough to tell those first on the scene of the accident that claimed his life that he’d gotten a glimpse of the car that crossed the road and struck him. In that instant when he knew he was going to be hit, his response was not one of anger, said those who know him best.

“Richard was a man of peace — a disciple of Jesus Christ,” wrote Brad LeBaron, Adam’s brother-in-law and president of the West Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “He set that example of forgiving and turning aside from wrath.”

LeBaron said he believes that Adam’s wife, Cindy, and their five children will follow that example, harboring no desire for revenge over the freak accident last Tuesday on South State Street just north of Poleline Road.

The driver of the car, Jonathon Blackhair, 36, of Randlett was driving on a suspended license. Blackhair’s Crown Victoria crossed the center line, went off the left side of South State Street, hit a wooden fence post, jumped a sidewalk and went airborne before hitting the 49-year-old Roosevelt man. The car came to rest in a front yard, just one foot from the exterior of a house.

Adams, an employee of Strata Networks, was working outside his vehicle installing identification labels on a telephone utility box when the accident occurred at 11:30 a.m. He was taken by ambulance to Uintah Basin Medical Center where he died a short time later.

According to Adam's co-worker Kim Anderton, workmen had spent several weeks splicing cable in the same spot Adams was hit.

“I would never in my wildest dreams have thought it (an accident) would happen there,” Anderton said. “Certainly we wouldn’t have expected a car from that direction.”

Unexpected as the accident was, LeBaron said the family isn’t angry.
“They don’t respond the way that others would expect,” LeBaron continued. “They respond the way they want to, the way they are — with kindness.”

LeBaron met Adams over 40 years ago when the two of them played little league baseball together in Pleasant Grove. During four decades that followed, LeBaron never saw Adams angry.

When LeBaron returned home from serving an LDS mission, his sister Cindy introduced him to her “would-be suitor.”

“I told her I didn’t like that guy,” LeBaron remembered. “I went on with my life, but then when she said she was going to marry Richard, I was psyched about that.”

LeBaron, CEO of Uintah Basin Medical Center, moved his family to Roosevelt 16 years ago. Six years ago his sister and brother-in-law followed, moving with their children from Santaquin when Adams was hired by Strata as a cable repairman.
Four of the Adams’ five children participated in funeral services for their father on Saturday.

The three oldest of the Adams’ children: Carrie, and twins Erica and Rick, each spoke, paying tribute to their father. Brooke, the youngest child in the family, gave the prayer.

The fourth child, Blake, who is serving an LDS mission on the Ivory Coast in Africa, did not come home for the funeral.

“There was no question in his heart or mind that is what his dad would want him to do,” LeBaron said. “He feels that he has a responsibility to complete what he has started.”

Several of the young men who were Boy Scouts when Adams was serving as scoutmaster in his LDS Ward in Santaquin came to Roosevelt to pay their respects.

“He made a big impact on me, and I know he did on a lot of the others in our troop,” former Boy Scout Steven Stringham said. The young father said he had ridden to the funeral with another former member of their scout group. The two discussed how other scout leaders were often upset at the boys’ antics.
“You ever been in the mountains with a bunch of scouts?” Stringham asked. “There’s probably good reason to be annoyed. You never felt that from Brother Adams.”

Carol Lee’s five sons had Adams as their scoutmaster.

“He was so patient,” Lee said. “He was always going out of his way to serve. He has really been a benefit to our family.”

Anthony Gabaldon worked alongside Adams at Strata.

“He was an incredible guy to work with,” Gabaldon said. “Whenever my buddy, Luke, or I needed help, Richard would stop everything and come help.”
Anderton agrees with this assessment.

“I worked shoulder to shoulder with him,” Anderton said. “I’ve never seen someone so willing to help. I’ve never seen someone so patient.”

“He has so many good attributes. He is an avid scouter. He has passion for everything he got engaged in,” LeBaron paused. “I say everything in the present tense because he is still alive; somewhere else, but still alive.”

And according to those who know Richard Adams best, wherever he is, he is not angry.

SIDEBAR A

Driver had history of driving offenses

The driver of the vehicle that hit Richard Adams last Tuesday, Jonathan Blackhair, has a history of driving- and alcohol-related offenses, court records show.

According to 8th District Court records, the 36-year-old pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor charges of DUI, having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, driving on suspension, and disorderly conduct. He was ordered to serve two days in jail and pay a $1,700 fine.

In April 2003, Blackhair pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, according to court records. He was ordered to pay a $107 fine.

Roosevelt Police Chief Rick Harrison said there is no preliminary evidence that alcohol or drug use contributed to the crash that killed Richard Adams on Nov. 10. Harrison did confirm that Blackhair was driving without a valid license due to his DUI conviction in March.

Police are awaiting toxicology test results, which can take four to six weeks to receive, before deciding what charges, if any, to file.

On the day of the accident, Blackhair was treated at Uintah Basin Medical Center for minor injuries and released. Harrison said the Randlett man has a history of diabetes and seizures. Officers are investigating whether those medical conditions may have contributed to the crash.

SIDEBAR B

Statement from Strata Networks

Employees at Strata Networks were deeply shocked and saddened beyond words when they learned about the tragic and fatal accident of co-worker Richard Adams.

“It is difficult to put into words the shock and sorrow we all feel with the loss of Richard who has been taken from us so unexpectedly,” said CEO and General Manager Bruce Todd. “We sympathize with the empty feelings his family is required to endure at this time and hope that in knowing of our support to them it will provide some small amount of comfort in the challenging days ahead.”

Richard was involved with the maintenance of the company’s Broadband Loop Carrier facilities. Todd Massey, plant operations manager and Richard’s supervisor, said: “He was always willing to do whatever assignments he was given, taking on tasks that no one else wanted to do.

He was easygoing, always willing to help others, going out of his way whenever he was needed, and always looking to advance his skill levels as well as his responsibilities.”

Massey expressed his appreciation for him as a safety trainer for the outside crews. “He helped implement a safety program that provided training for the crews on a monthly basis,” continued Massey. “He took his job seriously. He was very professional and safety-conscious.”