Lawsuit filed against off-duty deputy involved in crashed that killed BYU student

Mar 23, 2022, 2:34 PM | Updated: Nov 3, 2023, 4:42 pm

BYU student Joseph Spenser was killed in a collision with a speeding, unmarked vehicle driven by a Utah County deputy. (Provo Police Department)

(Provo Police Department)

BY CARY J. SCHWANITZ, KSL TV

KSLTV.com

PROVO, Utah – The father of a BYU student who died in a car crash has last year has filed a lawsuit against the off-duty deputy who was involved in the crash.

The crash happened in March 2021, killing 22-year-old Joseph Spencer.

He was leaving a Taco Bell near 900 East around 433 North in Provo when deputy Joseph Richardson smashed into his car.

Richarson was off duty and responding to a SWAT call in his personal truck.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed after the crash that Richardson was a member of the Utah County Metro SWAT team.

Deputy Richardson is still employed and is on leave until there is a resolution of his case.

Utah County deputy charged in connection with 2021 crash that killed BYU student

The Summit County attorney investigated the incident and filed one charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, against Richardson earlier this month.

The lawsuit named Richardson, Utah County, Utah County Sheriff’s Office and Taco Bell.

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