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UTAH COUNTY — Police are asking for the public’s help in gathering more information about an accident on I-15 that killed a 21- year-old.
The accident occurred on July 10 around 1:20 a.m., according to Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce. A Nissan Altima was traveling south on I-15 and had just gone over the Point of the Mountain into Utah County when the accident occurred.
The vehicle was crossing several lanes and the motorist was "driving erratically," Royce said. As the vehicle was swerving, the driver clipped a semitrailer that was parked on the right side shoulder and then rolled, police said.
Chancey Merrick from Orem was partially ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene of the accident. Department of Public Safety agent Jalaine Hawkes said the registered owner of the vehicle was also injured in the accident. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was released a short time later.
Hawkes said police are trying to determine if there was a third person in the vehicle at the time of the car accident. Police believe that several drivers may have arrived on the scene of the accident and offered assistance, but left before police arrived.
Hawkes said alcohol may have been a factor in the incident and the investigation is ongoing.
“I anticipate that with the investigation there will be charges,” Hawkes said.
Anyone with information about the accident can contact Utah Highway Patrol at 801-887-3800.
Contributing: Pat Reavy
