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IVINS, Washington County — Two men were critically injured after their car rolled and caught fire early Friday on state Route 18 in Washington County.
Emergency responders and a bystander are also being hailed as heroes for pulling one of the people out of the wreckage.
The crash occurred just after 2 a.m. Friday about 10 miles north of Ivins. Emergency crews were dispatched to the area after receiving a request originating from an Apple Watch detecting its owner had been involved in a crash on S.R. 18, Dammeron Valley fire officials said on social media.
As firefighters headed to the scene, they discovered passerby Jayden Darrington had stopped and reported the single vehicle crash, saying the car was on fire and two occupants were trapped inside.
Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Lucas Alfred said the car had been traveling around 120 mph when it went off the road, rolled and caught fire. He said the odor of alcohol was coming off the driver and intoxication most likely contributed to the crash, but that is still being investigated.
Santa Clara and Ivins fire crews, as well as Sgt. Dustin Killlpack from Washington County Sheriff's Office, were called for backup to assist at the scene. Killlpack and Darrington pulled the driver from the burning vehicle while the other passenger was able to get out of the car on his own.
Alfred said Darrington helped carry the driver away from the vehicle to safety.
Both occupants of the vehicle were treated on the scene by Gold Cross paramedics for undisclosed injuries, and then transported to St. George Regional Hospital in critical condition.
S.R. 18 was closed temporarily while firefighters extinguished the fire. Because the investigation is ongoing, police did not identify the two men but said they are in their late 20s.
"We remind everyone traveling on S.R. 18 to drive defensively and observe all posted speed limit and traffic signs. As growth across Washington County increases traffic on the corridor, it is important to pay attention and avoid excessive speeds and risky passing maneuvers," Dammeron Valley Fire's post says.
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