OGDEN, Utah — Charges against the owner of a Weber County towing company say he lied about the chains he used to secure the bulldozer he was transporting, which ultimately fell off the trailer and killed two people in July.

On July 6, Michael John Love was driving up Ogden Canyon (eastbound) in a flatbed tow truck with a 32,000 pound bulldozer. As the road curved to the right, the bulldozer slid off the left side of the truck and landed on a westbound passing vehicle. This cost the lives of Richard Hendrickson and his daughter Sally. Hendrickson was president and CEO of Utah-based Lifetime Products. Other family members in the SUV were also injured.

A few months later, Love was charged with two counts of 2nd degree manslaughter, one count of aggravated assault with serious injury, and two counts of obstructing justice.

Love, 51, owns Love’s Towing, based in Marriott-Slaterville.

According to charging documents, Love failed to properly secure the bulldozer to the flatbed truck and then lied to police. They say the bulldozer was only secured by a small chain at the rear and a towing winch at the front. Prosecutors added that these securing methods could only safely hold a maximum of 5,000 books. The bulldozer, weighing 32,000 pounds, was also 4,300 pounds over the weight limit of the Peterbilt tow truck.

As first responders tended to the crash victims, a deputy reportedly saw Love moving chains near the truck’s storage compartment. He was ordered to stop and leave everything as it was, since it was now a crime scene investigation.

During an interview with police, Love allegedly told them he secured the heavy equipment with two chains in the back, two in the front, one on the bulldozer bucket and a “J-hook.”

However, investigators obtained surveillance footage from a nearby gas station that they said was taken just minutes before the fatal incident. It showed that there were only two restraints: a chain at the rear and the winch cable/hook at the front.

According to the charges, Love also claimed the victims’ vehicle struck his tow truck and caused the bulldozer to release. Investigators determined this was not true, based on witnesses, evidence and data.

Charges were filed against Love on October 22, and he was subsequently arrested. He is being held in jail without bail as prosecutors noted he has two pending cases for theft and “false proof of title.”