DAMMERON VALLEY — An 18-year-old Dixie High School student was killed and his 16-year-old girlfriend seriously injured when his car drifted off the road in Dammeron Valley early Sunday morning on state Route 18.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said the driver was traveling northbound at milepost 17 when he apparently fell asleep at about 3:40 a.m. and drifted across the road to the opposite shoulder.
Drex Jade Taylor, 18, of Diamond Valley died at the scene. His girlfriend, who lives in Veyo, was not identified due to her age and was seriously injured. Neither teen was wearing a seat belt and both were ejected from the car.
She was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, where at last report she was in the Intensive Care Unit with life-threatening injuries.
Mower said fatigue may have been a factor in the crash.
“There was no evasive maneuvers, there’s no marks in the roadway, like he drifted one way and another and drifted right off the road,” Mower said. “Basically the car went off the road, rotated clockwise and the left side wheels dug in. Unfortunately, had they been seat belted in, they would have survived.”
St. George News sports editor Andy Griffin confirms that Taylor was a Dixie High student who had played football on the sophomore team, and would have graduated in 2017.
Family notifications were made Sunday morning by Washington County Sheriff’s deputies.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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not good. they probably would have both walked away from this had they been belted in.
My heart goes out to this girl and the two families. I can’t imagine the pain they all must be going through. So let’s keep our comments heartfelt
Condolences to the families. And let’s remember seat belts save lives. Buckle up
i hate reading these articles. momma and poppas hearts are so broken. i pray always for God to speed comfort, warm memories and healing. this stinks when this happens to a family. so not fair.
Drex was a great kid and a good friend to my son. He will be greatly missed. Prayers to your family and to the young lady fighting for her life and her family.