Idaho principal dies in accident

IDAHO FALLS — Bonneville School District families and staff are mourning the death of Woodland Hills Elementary School principal Oliver Roberts.

Roberts, 42, died Saturday after a utility task vehicle he was driving rolled off an embankment in the Pebble Creek ski area south of Pocatello.

Police say Roberts succumbed to his injuries at the scene. First responders transported an unidentified juvenile passenger to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello. His condition is unknown.

“Our hearts are broken and it’s hard to find the words,” the district wrote in a statement on Facebook Sunday.

A crisis team is available to talk to students and staff at Woodland Hills, the district said.

Roberts was principal at Woodland Hills for five years. Before that, he was principal at the district’s Iona Elementary School and assistant principal at Rocky Mountain Middle School.

Bonneville Assistant Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme will temporarily fill in as the school’s principal.

Roberts’ funeral will be held Thursday at noon. Due to the number of substitutes needed, the district has canceled all classes for the day.

Devin Bodkin

Devin Bodkin

EdNews assistant editor and reporter Devin Bodkin is a former high school English teacher who specializes in stories about charter schools and educating students who live in poverty. He lives and works in East Idaho. Follow Devin on Twitter @dsbodkin. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

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