Utah Car Crash: Sports Car Collides With Van On Highway, Killing 5
A Utah car crash left five dead and two in critical condition after a terrible accident Sunday afternoon in Monticello.
KSL reports the Utah Highway Patrol confirmed that a van carrying five individuals tried passing another vehicle on U.S. 191 — which is a two-lane highway — near mile marker 81. A sports car carrying two people was driving in the other direction when the two collided during the van’s attempt to pass. The sports car went off a steep embankment, rested about 100 feet below the road, and car caught on fire, according to Trooper Evan Kirby.
The two people in the sports car died in the crash, along with three of those from the van. The other two passengers from the van are in critical condition.
The report adds that a small brush fire began, but was rapidly extinguished.
Monticello is about 285 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, according to WebProNews.
In a report published by Travelers Today, this fatal wreck is being referred to as the Utah car crash of 2014. It happened at one of the busiest times of the year for road travel — the 4th of July weekend. The crash happened at about 2:30 pm Sunday.
Identities of the victims haven’t been released.
After the wreck, the Utah Highway Patrol ordered the closure of of both U.S. 191 Highway lanes. They posted this message on their official Twitter account:
“SR 191 closed both directions at mm 81 due to serious crash. More details coming.”
According to several reports, this isn’t the first terrible accident from the 4th of July weekend in Utah. Another car crash took place Friday night when a woman and her two daughters were killed in Tooele County on Interstate 80. Her boyfriend, Jose Adame-Orozco, 36, of Farmington was driving the SUV. He’s in critical condition. Delphine John, 44, and her daughters, Deliah Ramirez, 18, and Anaya Orozco, 3, were killed. Paul Mumford, 36, of West Jordan, was driving a truck in the wrong lane when he collided with the SUV. He’s also listed in critical condition. There’s reason to believe alcohol is involved in the wreck.
Troopers say both the SUV and truck were driving at 80 mph and didn’t use the brakes because no skid marks were on the highway. They’re reportedly in disbelief over the impact. Highway Patrol Captain Doug McCleve says:
“That’s like hitting a brick wall at 160 miles per hour. Just a tremendous amount of force and impact.”
[Photo Credit: Utah Highway Patrol via Daily Mail]
