COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Two medical helicopters, four ambulances and 21 emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a high speed rollover Thursday near Colorado City, which resulted in four of the vehicle occupants being ejected. Two of those occupants are listed in critical condition.
At approximately 6:20 a.m., the driver of a red pickup truck was apparently traveling north on County Road 5, known as Clay Hole Road, located about 3 miles from the Colorado City Municipal Airport, Colorado City Fire Chief Kevin Barlow said.
While the exact cause is unknown pending an investigation, Barlow said, it appeared the driver of the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed on the dirt gravel road before losing control of the vehicle and leaving the roadway, subsequently causing the truck to roll.
After the truck rolled, one of the truck’s occupants was able to call 911 to report that the crash had occurred and that there were multiple injured people.
“We responded with nine units from Colorado City Fire, four ambulances, a fire engine, heavy rescue, command and support vehicles,” Barlow said. “We had over 21 people – firefighters, EMS people – on scene.”
Upon arrival, emergency responders found all four of the truck’s occupants had been ejected during the rollover.
“A couple of the patients, at least two, were very critical with urgent, urgent care needed on scene,” Barlow said. “The other two were up and around.”
Two medical response helicopters – a Classic Lifeguard out of Kanab, Utah, and Intermountain Life Flight out of St. George, Utah, – were additionally requested to the scene.
“One patient was very critical,” Barlow said, “so much so that they chose not to work that patient in the helicopter and they ended up ground transporting. I haven’t heard the results entirely of what that patient outcome is. The other three patients, sounds like, will fare fairly well.”
Barlow urged caution for motorists traveling on dirt roads with loose gravel as they can oftentimes be dangerous.
“These dirt gravel county roads are very unforgiving,” he said. “You get off into the barrow pit and it’s easy to lose control (and) overcorrect.”
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
St. George News video-journalist Michael Durrant contributed to this report from Colorado City.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
2016 file photo of Colorado City-Hildale Marshals at the scene of a rollover, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Colorado City-Hildale Marshals respond to the scene of a rollover where four people had been ejected from a rolling truck, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The scene of a high speed rollover where four people were ejected from a rolling truck, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The scene of a high speed rollover where four people were ejected from a rolling truck, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The scene of a high speed rollover where four people were ejected from a rolling truck, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The path a vehicle took before rolling and ejecting four occupants, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The path a vehicle took before rolling and ejecting four occupants. Authorities said these roads are dangerous at high speeds, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Passers-by look upon rolled vehicle on Mohave County land, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Passers-by look upon rolled vehicle on Mohave County land, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
The scene of a high speed rollover where four people were ejected from a rolling truck, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Fence debris along path of rolling vehicle, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Sheared fence post in the path of a rolling vehicle, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
Sheared fence post in the path of a rolling vehicle, Colorado City, Arizona, April 7, 2016 | Photo by Michael Durrant, St. George News
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Somebody wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Good to see St George news is back on track and reporting accidents. It was a slow spell for a while but I see St George area drivers are back on track……my comment on this article is: please don’t die! Recover from your injuries.
My comment on this article is : I hope they can save the fence post
I think if there was a law requiring seat belts to be used, these people would have been safe. If only there were laws to prevent these needless ejections during rollovers… things like this just wouldn’t happen anymore.
There is a seatbelt law, 41-6a-1803.
Nonsense! If such a law existed then this couldn’t have happened! The same goes for gun laws, cell phones while driving laws, and traffic light laws.
There are laws in place LOL ! for all those things. geez
Laws don’t stop people from doing these things listed (and obtaining guns) I think is the point.
Ladybugavenger gets it. Sheesh…