The Utah Highway Patrol has identified Jake Shoff, a 46-year-old former BYU basketball player, as the individual who died in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near the Point of the Mountain. The accident, which occurred on Thursday just before noon, involved Shoff's Mercedes G63 driving recklessly on the highway's right shoulder at a high rate of speed, as reported by KSL. A medical episode is suspected as a contributing factor in the tragic incident.
According to FOX 13, the vehicle initially rear-ended a Nissan Sentra before colliding with a median barrier and sideswiping a Ford Escape and a Chevrolet Express box truck, ultimately rolling onto its side. After being extricated from his car through the sunroof, Shoff was pronounced dead at the scene, said driving recklessly, the Utah Highway Patrol. Traffic was impacted significantly as the crash led to the closure of four righthand lanes of northbound I-15 for approximately five and a half hours.
As reported by FOX 13, Shoff played for the Cougars from 2001-2004 and was notably part of the starting lineup for BYU's NCAA Tournament game against Connecticut in 2003. His sudden passing has left the BYU community in mourning, with tributes from former teammates and fans pouring in.
Utah's Department of Public Safety is still investigating the nature of the medical emergency that 46-year-old Jacob Shoff may have suffered, as detailed by KUTV. Witnesses observed Shoff's Mercedes crossing all northbound lanes erratically from the right-side shoulder before the crash occurred. The family of Shoff released a statement through his brother-in-law, local sports radio host Ben Criddle, who was described as leaving "an indelible mark" on everyone he met, and his absence will leave shoes impossible to fill.
