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A teenager is dead and his passenger critically injured following an accident on I-15 in Utah County last night. It happened near the University Parkway exit in Orem.
Highway Patrol troopers say the teen passed a car full of friends, then veered off the side of the road and overcorrected.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. David Rumfield said, "This family that lost this child today apparently had lost another one in the last little while." It's a tragedy no parent would ever want to experience twice.
Rumfield said the vehicle rolled three, maybe four times. Travis Lindsay, 18, and his passenger, 20-year-old Rory Symons were thrown from the car. Rumfield said, "We don't believe anybody was wearing a seat belt."
Lindsay was killed instantly. Symons was taken to the hospital in critical condition. "The inside of the vehicle was intact. Seat-belt usage would have prevented a tragedy today," Rumfield said.
Speed, worn tires and inattentive driving likely contributed to the deadly crash. "We believe the speed was in excess of 80 miles per hour, and then as you try to make corrections in your driving, it did not fair very well," Rumfield said.
He added the accident could have been prevented. He said, "You know, you have to watch what you're doing when you're driving. It's a very significant event, driving a vehicle, but you must wear your seat belts."
A message that can't be reiterated enough. Rumfield said, "If you want to save your life, that's the No. 1 thing to do."
Rory Symons is still at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. He is in serious condition and will likely be there for a while.
This afternoon, we're told friends gathered at the crash site and placed cups in a fence that read: "Pray for Rory."
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
