Sad News As Utah Tech Student Dies, Two Others Injured In Snow Canyon Crash

A 19-year-old Utah Tech student was killed and two others were seriously injured Wednesday night in a frightening crash in Snow Canyon State Park.

The crash happened at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday when a Volkswagen Jetta carrying the three teenagers, traveling at a high rate of speed, failed to navigate a turn.

The car rolled several hundred feet down an embankment and the driver, who hails from Nevada but lived in Southern Utah as a student at Utah Tech, was killed in the rollover.

The two passengers, both female 18-year-olds, were seriously injured, though authorities have not provided an update on their injuries.

The crash ended with the car coming to rest in the Lava Flow Trailhead parking lot.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two passengers were transported by LifeFlight helicopter to the St. George Regional Hospital.

Authorities have not provided names of the victims and the Accident reconstruction team was actively recreating the scene Thursday morning.

Officials say they believe the car was traveling between 70- and 100-mile per hour at the time of the crash.

Ivins Fire and Rescue reported they had to use extrication tools to get the three teens out of the car.

In Utah it has been an especially deadly year for traffic fatalities.

The "100 deadliest days of summer" -- the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day saw 101 fatalities on Utah roads.

According to the Utah Department of Transportation, 201 people have died on Utah roads during the course of the entire 2024 year with still more than three months left in the year.

In 2023, there were 279 deaths for the year.

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The Most Common Traffic Related Crimes in St. George are Easily Preventable

Public Information Officer Tiffany Mitchell is continuing to educate the drivers of Southern Utah with her Motor Minute live streams on the St. Geroge Police Department’s Facebook page.

The March 14 edition of Motor Minute focused on the six deadly sins that cause traffic accidents in Washington County. To convey these issues, Officer Mitchell enlisted the help of Officer Blackman from the traffic division of the SGPD.

According to Officer Mitchell, the six deadly sins leading to traffic accidents are…

1. Right of Way
2. Speed
3. Distracted Driving
4. Impaired Driving (DUI)
5. Reckless Driving
6. Tailgating (Following Too Close Behind a Vehicle)

These issues are a constant factor in traffic accidents in Southern Utah and can lead to injury and even death if not taken seriously.

Let’s dive into each one in more detail.

Right of Way

The video used the example of a woman who cut off another vehicle when making a left-hand turn. Improper lane changes can also be considered a violation related to the right of way. The most important way to avoid this issue is to be considerate of other drivers.

Speed

This is pretty self-explanatory, but high speeds on busy city streets make your chances of surviving a crash go down drastically. Officer Mitchell and Blackman said in the video that most people hover about five to nine miles per hour above the speed limit. This is also a big contributor to the issue.

Distracted Driving

While phones play a big part in distracting drivers, the term distracted driving applies to anything that diverts your attention from the wheel. This means eating while driving, listening to music, turning your head to talk to your passengers, and so much more.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving applies to anyone who is driving while under the influence of a foreign substance. Alcohol, marijuana, other illegal narcotics, and even a new medication can affect your judgment on the road. Yes, impaired driving doesn’t just apply to reckless behavior. Sometimes it can be a side effect from something you need to take for a medical purpose.

Reckless Driving

Also known as road rage in some instances, reckless driving is a conscious decision to interfere with other drivers on the road, endangering lives in the process. Maybe someone cut you off on the road, or a driver is bobbing and weaving through traffic at a high speed. On top of being incredibly dangerous to the driver and the people around them, it can also be expensive since tickets for reckless driving can cost you around $1,000 in some cases.

Tailgating

Under no circumstances should you be driving bumper on any street or freeway. It’s an accident just waiting to happen, and there’s a very simple way to avoid it. Officer Blackman said to give yourself about two seconds' worth of space. That can be interpreted as two car lengths, but it’s two seconds of space between vehicles.

Please watch the full video if want to hear stories related to every one of these six deadly sins and remember to wear your seatbelt during even the shortest of commutes. Your life matters.

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