Inset: Matthew Daines (LinkedIn/Matthew Daines). Background: The crash scene in Springville, Utah, where Matthew Daines died protecting his newlywed wife from a suspected drunk driver (KSTU/YouTube).
In Utah, a man who had recently married in July was killed by a drunk driver. He “heroically” saved his wife’s life by pushing her away from the path of an oncoming truck, absorbing the “entire impact” himself, according to police reports.
Police identified Matthew Daines as the individual who saved his wife’s life on Wednesday night while they were walking in Springville near 40 East 400 South. A Chevrolet Silverado, allegedly driven by Travis McIntyre, veered off the road and threatened to hit the couple, according to authorities.
“Daines, walking next to his wife, noticed the truck approaching them and heroically pushed his wife out of its path,” the Springville Police Department stated in a press release. “She remains safe and unharmed due to his actions.”
Officers responded to the scene at around 8:40 p.m. and performed life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. Daines was taken to a local hospital but ultimately “succumbed to his extensive injuries,” police reported. The press release noted that officers detected the smell of alcohol from the driver at the scene.
A DUI investigation ensued. McIntyre was found to have a blood alcohol level more than six times the legal limit, police stated. He was arrested for vehicular homicide, DUI, and multiple other charges.
“No words can adequately express our sense of loss at the sudden and unexpected death of our son Matthew Daines,” the man’s family said in a statement posted on Facebook by Springville police.
“The event that took him from us and this Earth resulted from human error, but does not undermine the power and love of the Almighty, in whose wisdom we choose to trust,” the family said. “In our profoundly deep sorrow, we encourage no sense of retribution to anyone. We ask that all persons and parties not directly involved in this tragic matter respect our need for privacy while we deal with loss and necessary arrangements, going forward.”
State marriage records show that Daines and his wife, who is not being identified at the request of police and her family, received a marriage license on July 19.
A man who identified himself on Facebook as a “wrestling brother” of Daines — with multiple videos and photos of them together through his account — announced his death in a Thursday post.
