WASHINGTON CITY – The driver of an SUV traveling southbound on Interstate 15, just prior to the Green Springs Exit 10, lost control as her vehicle rolled down the hill, through a fence, and over the side of the embankment and came to rest 45 feet below the Interstate.
The single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 3:19 p.m. when the Ford Explorer SUV’s tire separated, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lars Gardner said. The driver lost control and rolled the vehicle off the highway.
There were two Washington County female occupants in the SUV – one woman and one child.
The driver’s daughter was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George with what the UHP trooper described as minor injuries.
“The child was complaining of some back pain,” Gardner said. “She was screaming very well.”
The driver was cited for not having the child’s seatbelt properly secured, Gardner said. She was also cited for another offense that was not specified; Gardner said it was unrelated to the accident.
Southbound traffic was slowed to a crawl for some time.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by responders on scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Vehicle rolled off Interstate 15 just south of Exit 10 Southbound, Washington County, Utah, June 15, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Vehicle rolled off Interstate 15 just south of Exit 10 Southbound, Washington County, Utah, June 15, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Vehicle rolled off Interstate 15 just south of Exit 10 Southbound, Washington County, Utah, June 15, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Vehicle rolled off Interstate 15 just south of Exit 10 Southbound, Washington County, Utah, June 15, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Vehicle rolled off Interstate 15 just south of Exit 10 Southbound, Washington County, Utah, June 15, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
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I don’t understand drivers in Utah that they don’t buckle up. Weekly we read about
this. Glad the child is going to be ok. Do the right thing & buckle up.
I have seen accidents supporting both sides of the seat belt issue. For instance, my aunt and my husband’s brother (in separate accidents) both would have been killed in roll over accidents had they BEEN wearing their seat belt. The belt would have prevented their ejection from the vehicle and they would have been crushed. (They both routinely do where their seat belts and by the grace of God forgot that day). On the flip side, I had a friend who would have lived had she worn her seat belt. I think that, as a general rule, that seat belts are a good idea, but there shouldn’t be laws forcing people to use them if they do not wish to.
Wow, that car looks like things could have been a lot worse. I am glad everyone in the car was ok.
Get your facts straight Ms. Scott. The child was in a restraint just not in a booster seat. The child was not the drivers daughter so she didn’t have a booster. The driver did not get charged with any other violations other than not having child in a booster. Thankfully they are both walking away with minor injuries.
M Rawlings, we are so pleased to hear that the woman and child are OK. Understand our report derives from the trooper responding at the scene in the moment. The term restraint may include booster seat requirements, without seeing the citation I can only speculate. What we can do is call in and inquire, sometimes the final accident report will provide further clarification as the investigation was resolved. But again, it is good news that all are well, we are thankful for that right along with you and appreciate your update.
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Joyce Kuzmanic
Editor in Chief
By looking at the damage, who’s to say that a booster seat would have caused the child to be killed.