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 through Ogden Canyon (heading east) in a flatbed crane with a 32,000-pound dozer. As the road turned to the right, the excavator slid off the left side of the truck and landed on a passing vehicle. This claimed the lives of Richard Hendrickson and his daughter Sally. Hendrickson was president and CEO of Utah-based Lifetime Products. Other family members traveling in the truck were also injured.

Months later, Love was charged with two second-degree felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of aggravated assault causing serious injury and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Love, 51, is the owner of Love’s Towing, based in Marriott-Slaterville.

According to charging documents, Love failed to properly secure the excavator to the flatbed truck and then lied about it to police. They say the bulldozer was only secured by a small chain at the rear and a tow winch at the front. Prosecutors added that those security methods would only safely support a maximum of 5,000 pounds. The 32,000-pound dozer was also 4,300 pounds over the weight limit of the Peterbilt crane.

While first responders were treating the crash victims, an officer allegedly saw Love moving chains near the truck’s storage compartment. He was ordered to stop and leave everything as it was, as this was now a crime scene investigation.

In an interview with police, Love allegedly told them he had secured the heavy equipment with two chains in the back, two in the front, one over the excavator 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 attachments: a chain at the back and the winch cable/hook at the front.

According to the charges, Love also claimed that the victims’ vehicle collided with his crane, causing the excavator to come loose. Investigators determined this was not true, based on witnesses, evidence and data.

Charges were filed against Love on October 22 and he was later arrested. He is being held in jail without bail, as prosecutors said he has two pending cases involving felony theft and “false evidence of title.”