VIRGIN RIVER GORGE, Ariz. – A rollover accident occured on I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge this afternoon, requiring one person to be lifeflighted and three others transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, as earlier reported by St. George News.
Sgt. John T. Bottoms of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol Division, has advised that the cause of the collision is suspected to be a “blowout” of the left rear tire of the vehicle involved, a 1992 Ford Bronco SUV. He also said, “It also appears none of the occupants were properly restrained or were wearing their seatbelts.”
“The highway was completely closed for approximately 30-40 minutes while emergency personnel landed a helicopter to transport the one subject to [Las Vegas] for treatment.”
Bottoms said this evening,”I have spoken with the three occupants at Dixie Regional [Medical Center] Hospital, two of the three will be admitted for their injuries, the third will be treated and released. The driver, Edvin Avanesyan, 30, from Glendale, Calif. sustained a fracture to his hip, severe concussion, and several large lacerations and abrasions. The front seat passenger, (spouse) Nvard Rosie Izmirian, (28 year old female), from Glendale, Calif. is still being examined and her results are not available yet. It appears she has a fractured jaw, elbow, ankle and several lacerations. She is complaining of severe pain in her back, neck and head but x-rays, and other medical tests had not returned before I left the hospital. The passenger in the left back seat, Vahe Akopin, (28 year old male), from Las Vegas, Nev., suffered three small fractures to his back and received sutures for some lacerations to his right arm and sustained multiple lacerations to his lower legs. The fourth passenger has not been positively identified, but was transported by Mercy Air to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. I was told by friends he was currently in surgery and is expected to survive his injuries.”
Bottoms said that the highway (I-15) was opened and all restrictions lifted at 3 p.m. MST.
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