2 women jump from SUV before crashing in Spanish Fork Canyon


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SPANISH FORK — Two 18-year-old women jumped out of their SUV before it rolled in a remote area near Spanish Fork Canyon and likely prevented a worse outcome, Utah County Sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.

Sgt. Spencer Cannon said they were still investigating why the SUV headed off a dirt road in the Rays Valley area Monday night, but the SUV rolled several times and was several hundred feet from the road when it stopped. According to the driver, the brakes of the vehicle went out and caused the incident, Cannon said.

“They were very lucky,” Cannon said. “From looking at the car, had they been in the car this could have been a much more tragic outcome.”

Usually, Cannon said, police discourage jumping out of a moving vehicle.

“We don’t recommend it as a way to escape, but it worked for them,” he said.

Cannon said the crash happened sometime between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday night, but deputies weren’t alerted to the crash until a call to dispatch at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The women, Cannon said, had apparently found someone to give them a ride out of the canyon and were treated at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.


They were very lucky. From looking at the car, had they been in the car this could have been a much more tragic outcome.

–Sgt. Spencer Cannon


The driver, Cannon said, suffered a broken clavicle, broken scapula, lacerations to her head and body, and a large puncture wound to an ankle. She is still in the hospital at this time. The other woman suffered lacerations and contusions and also lost consciousness briefly, but is not hospitalized.

The women, according to sheriff’s deputies, were on their way to some hot springs in Diamond Fork Canyon.

Deputies said one of the women provided a written statement that the two had marijuana in their SUV.

Cannon said they were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of alcohol and open container.

The driver, Cannon said, was also cited for never having obtained a driver’s license.

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