A single-car rollover accident happened off of I-15 through Cedar City on Oct. 12, 2019. Two passengers were seriously injured from the crash.
The accident took place near mile marker 59, heading northbound towards Salt Lake.
The accident occurred when the car suddenly blew the front tire while going freeway speeds, causing the car to spin off the road. The front seat passenger was stuck inside the vehicle, while the backseat passenger was thrown from the vehicle due to not wearing a seatbelt.
The driver only received minor cuts and bruises.
Officers and emergency personnel were called to the scene at 7:15 p.m. After ejecting the stuck passenger from the vehicle, both injured passengers were ground transported to the nearest hospital. Both were then flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center, a level II trauma center, for treatment.
The official at the scene, UHP Trooper Colton Freckleton, shared how the use of seatbelts is extremely important. The backseat passenger “Would definitely have been saved from being ejected, and his injuries would have been far less severe had he been wearing his seat belt,” said Freckleton.
Research shows that any vehicle can roll. A study by the National Institute of health shows a 99.8 percent effective rate that people who wear their seat belts will not be ejected. Studies also show that ejection was a leading cause of death in car wrecks among children.
Unlike Saturdays instance, most rollover crashes happen when the driver is intoxicated. Speed is also a major factor resulting in injuries from car crashes.
As drivers and passengers, be sure that the driver is sober and alert, and that everyone is ensured the most safety by wearing a seatbelt.
Story by: Moriah Spainhower
news@suunews.net
Photos courtesy of: StGeorgeUtah.com
