Woman taken to hospital after falling asleep, rolling car on I-15

A woman was transported to the hospital after a rollover on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 5.5, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Aug. 18, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News

ARIZONA STRIP – A woman was transported to the hospital Tuesday morning after falling asleep while driving along Interstate 15 and crashing into a guardrail before rolling her car.

At approximately 6:21 a.m. MST, 23-year-old Yarely Rosas, of Beaver Dam, Arizona, was northbound on I-15 in a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John T. Bottoms said.

A woman was transported to the hospital after a rollover on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 5.5, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Aug. 18, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News
A woman was transported to the hospital after a rollover on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 5.5, Arizona Strip, Arizona, Aug. 18, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News

At some point, Rosas dozed off, lost control of her vehicle, smashed into a guardrail and rolled her car off the right side of the roadway near Arizona milepost 5.5.

The woman sustained minor injuries during the crash and was transported by ambulance to Mesa View Hospital in Mesquite, Nevada, for examination.

While Rosas was being examined at the hospital, Bottoms said, a nurse removed Rosas’ bra and discovered what appeared to be illegal drugs, including suspected methamphetamine and another substance authorities were analyzing to positively identify.

“Her inability to keep her vehicle on the highway,” Bottoms said, “was probably due, in some part, by her drug intoxication.”

As a result of the collision, Rosas is now facing misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs and felony drug possession charges, Bottoms said.

“She was wearing her seat belt,” he said, “which saved her from serious injuries.”

Ironically, Bottoms said, you can see the cross in the background of the photo from a previous fatal collision in the same location.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by the authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

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10 Comments

  • anybody home August 18, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Drugging and driving…southern Utah’s favorite sport.

  • sagemoon August 18, 2015 at 9:57 am

    Dang tweeker.

  • fun bag August 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

    alcoholics and meth addicts rolling cars willy-nilly… can’t something be done?

  • anybody home August 18, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    Probably, but it won’t be.

  • ladybugavenger August 18, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Sleeping and driving is not a good combo…… It was more of passed out and driving. If your party on with alcohol and drugs….take a cab its cheaper (and less shameful) heck, pass out in a cab- no one cares.

  • beentheredonethat August 18, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    She may have been up for days prior.

  • mmsandie August 18, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    People know when they are tired and should pull off the road and nap..many do they wait til they pass out??

  • TheUnMormon August 24, 2015 at 4:58 am

    None of you know this young lady, none, the Lord must be so grateful to have you all passing judgement on others, for him. Beentheredonethat? Well you of all people should know, there are usually very painful events that will lead you down a destructive path, ad It just got worse, because now she’s lost her job, to. Then, holy than thou, complete strangers are sitting around pubicly commenting on a tragic event, that thankfully she walked away from. Dang tweekers, yeah they do suck sometimes, but so do … Utards!!!
    Ed. ellipsis.

    • sagemoon August 24, 2015 at 9:35 am

      We are the Court of Public Opinion and we will pass whatever judgement our United States Constitution allows. My other opinion? Get your friend/relative into treatment for her substance abuse issues. Don’t let her die next time. Show you care!

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