Caffe Ibis Founder Randy Wirth Dies Following Crash with Alleged Drunk Driver

Randy Wirth and Sally Sears. Photo by Kristen Munson, courtesy of Utah State University.

Randy Wirth, who founded Logan, Utah-based Caffe Ibis with his wife Sally Sears in 1976, has died from injuries suffered during a vehicle crash last late last week.

The 68-year-old was riding his motorcycle around 7:30 p.m. when 40-year-old Alvin Henson’s pickup truck swerved into his lane, causing a three vehicle crash that also involved a Cadillac DeVille, according to police reports. Police say Henson was clearly intoxicated when they arrived at the scene, and yesterday charged him vehicular homicide.

“None of the witnesses or any of the drivers saw the motorcycle and it is still unclear where the motorcycle was in relation to the other vehicles,” police said in a press release Friday.

Wirth was taken to Logan Regional Hospital, and later flown by helicopter to McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. He passed away Saturday afternoon.

Wirth, originally from San Francisco, met Sears while the two were at Utah State University, where they shared a love for the mountains and outdoor activities. The two became pioneers in the Utah specialty coffee scene, to this day roasting for wholesale and grocery accounts, while running the Caffe Ibis retail bar in Logan. The company boasts “triple-certified” coffees (Fair Trade, Organic, and Smithsonian Bird Friendly), a reflection of the company’s mission to support social justice and environmental stewardship.