OGDEN, UT — Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter has taken a voluntary administrative leave after being involved in a crash in Ogden Canyon that left a 22-year-old motorcyclist with severe injuries. County officials confirmed the leave on Friday as investigators continued to examine what happened at the mouth of the canyon.
The crash happened Tuesday when the motorcyclist collided with a car turning from Valley Drive onto Canyon Road. Officials said Potter stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators from the Ogden Police Department and the Weber Metro CRASH Team.
Collision at the mouth of Ogden Canyon left one rider badly hurt
Authorities said the motorcycle crash happened near the entrance to Ogden Canyon, a busy connection point where traffic from local roads meets canyon travel. The rider, a 22-year-old woman, was taken to a local hospital after suffering what officials described as severe injuries.
Her name has not been released, and officials said her condition was not available as of Friday. The information released so far does not describe the full sequence of events beyond the fact that the motorcycle struck a car making a turn from Valley Drive onto Canyon Road.
Potter stayed on scene and cooperated with investigators
Box Elder County said Potter did not leave the scene after the crash. Instead, he remained there and worked with responding investigators as they began sorting out the circumstances of the collision.
The Ogden Police Department and the Weber Metro CRASH Team are handling the investigation. Those investigators typically examine roadway layout, vehicle positions, witness accounts and other evidence to determine how a crash unfolded, though officials have not released any conclusions in this case.
County officials confirmed the sheriff's leave on Friday
The county first publicly confirmed Potter’s involvement in the crash on Friday, when it also said he had stepped away from his duties on a voluntary basis. Officials did not say how long the leave will last or whether any temporary arrangements have been made inside the sheriff’s office.
In its statement, the county said, “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.” That brief message was the only public comment from county officials included in the update.
Ogden Police and crash team continue reviewing what happened
The crash remains under active investigation, with Ogden police and the Weber Metro CRASH Team leading the work. So far, officials have not said whether speed, distraction, or other factors may have played a role in the collision.
They also have not said whether citations or charges are being considered. For now, the public record is limited to the location of the crash, the injuries to the motorcyclist, Potter’s presence at the scene, and his decision to take leave while the case is reviewed.
What is known so far about the crash and aftermath
The available details paint a narrow but serious picture of the incident at the canyon mouth. A motorcyclist was badly hurt after colliding with a car turning onto Canyon Road, and one of the people involved was the elected sheriff of neighboring Box Elder County.
With the investigation still open, officials have released only limited information about the crash and the motorcyclist’s recovery. The county’s statement suggests the matter will remain under review while Potter stays on leave and investigators continue examining the scene and the events that led to the collision.
