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LEHI — A rollover crash in Lehi killed a teenage girl and injured four other teens late Thursday night. Investigators say speed and a lack of seat belts played a factor in the deadly crash.
Six people were in the SUV when the driver, Maryah Hayley Edwards, of Lehi, tried to negotiate a curve on 600 East at 2300 North just after 11 p.m., according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office. The cautionary limit is 20 mph but investigators believe the SUV was going at least 50 mph, he said.
Cannon described the area as a narrow two-lane road with no shoulder. He said the vehicle was northbound when Edwards negotiated a right-hand curve and lost control.
A witness reported seeing the SUV driving too fast for the area. Then the vehicle's lights disappeared and she saw things flying through the air.
"(The vehicle completed) at least one full roll," Cannon said. "There is a lot of damage along the road, and it appears to be all the way around the vehicle, which usually means at least once. But my guess is more than that."
Cannon said several of the teens inside appeared to have been ejected before the vehicle came to rest on its wheels.
(The vehicle completed) at least one full roll. There is a lot of damage along the road, and it appears to be all the way around the vehicle, which usually means at least once. But my guess is more than that.
–Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff's Office
Edwards, 17, died at the scene. Jayden Farrell, 17, of Lehi, was airlifted to American Fork Hospital in extremely critical condition. He suffered a broken neck and back, Cannon said.
Three of the other passengers were taken to Intermountain Medical Center by ambulance; one of them suffered a break in her lower back, Cannon said.
One passenger was evaluated at the scene and then released to her parents.
She reported feeling like the vehicle was going too fast and at the last minute put on her seat belt and held the safety handle, Cannon said.
Investigators say its unclear if any of the other passengers were wearing seat belts. They do know the driver's seat belt was buckled behind the seat.
Five of the people inside the vehicle were 17 years old and one girl was 16, according to Cannon.
