ST. GEORGE — A horrific head-on crash south of Scipio in Millard County left three dead and two critically injured Tuesday night.
A 17-year-old boy survived and is in “extremely critical condition” at Primary Children’s Hospital. His parents were killed in the collision and his 11-year-old brother died on the way to the hospital, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Utah Highway Patrol.
The family was visiting from Archdale, North Carolina, when the crash occurred between their Ford Fusion and a Porsche Cayenne SUV.
A 9-year-old passenger in the Porsche also was transported to Primary Children’s Hospital in critical condition, while the driver was in stable condition.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m., the Porsche was heading east on U.S. Route 50 when the driver crossed into the westbound lane to pass a slower-moving truck, but didn’t immediately return to the eastbound lane.
The Porsche struck the westbound Ford head on, which flipped the SUV onto its roof and forced the Ford backward and off the shoulder. Both vehicles caught fire with the occupants trapped inside, the statement said.
A passerby cut the seat belts away from the occupants inside of the Porsche, who were able to exit the vehicle and escape the fire. All four occupants inside the burning Ford had to be extricated by firefighters who arrived within three minutes.
Troopers said the Ford’s driver, Tyrone Bova, 47, and his wife Holly Jo Bova, 43, who was sitting in the front seat, were killed instantly, while Haden Bova, 11, died en route to the hospital.
“Fortunately, the Fire Department arrived in time to prevent the fire from overtaking any of the occupants,” the trooper said in the statement.
The highway was closed for more than three hours.
Investigators are looking at speed and distraction as being possible factors in the crash, adding that there were dogs inside of the SUV that may have distracted the driver, the statement said.
Emergency workers with Scipio Ambulance, Millard County Ambulance and Fillmore Fire Rescue responded to the scene.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Just so Sad….please, drivers, pay attention while driving, get off your phones and keep your animals under control