Police escort will bring Rigby officer’s body home Friday
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RIGBY — A police escort will bring the body of William “Bill” Gray home to rest Friday afternoon.
The 43-year-old Rigby reserve police officer died Monday night after spending two months in the University of Utah Burn Center. Gray was seriously burned in July following a head-on crash caused by a man in a pickup truck who was fleeing police on U.S. Highway 89 in Utah.
The Utah Highway Patrol will be escorting Gray’s body and two Rigby police units to the Utah/Idaho Border, according Rigby Police Chief Sam Tower. From there, Idaho State Police and other agencies will continue the escort to Rigby.
“We will be arriving in Rigby between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. We will be coming West down E Main St. where the kind citizens have placed blue lines on business windows, blue balloons and ribbons on trees. Those in the community that wish to view the escort are welcome to do so in this area,” a Rigby Police Department Facebook post reads.
Gray joined the Rigby Police Department as a volunteer reserve officer five years ago. He was also a full-time semi truck driver who loved serving the city, Tower told EastIdahoNews.com in July.
Gray received national attention last month when, after being admitted to the burn center, a Salt Lake City police officer arrived to collect a blood draw. University hospital nurse Alex Wubbels refused to draw the blood, quoting hospital policy. She was arrested but later released without charges.
Towers says the police department is planning a community memorial for Gray next Friday, Oct. 6, at Rigby High School. More details will be announced later.
Two donation accounts have been set up to help the Gray family with medical and travel expenses.
In person, by mail, or via bill pay:
Zion’s Bank-William Gray Fund
149 W. Main Street, Rexburg, ID 83440
(208) 356-7688