Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
UTAH COUNTY -- Tragedy struck a family in Utah County Thursday as two sisters were killed during a family vacation in Nevada. The girls, ages 17 and 15, died in a traffic accident.
It is very difficult news to hear for friends of Alexis and Amanda Johnson. The two sisters died while traveling with their family on their spring break from school.
According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 5:00 Thursday morning along Interstate 15 near the Valley of Fire Road, which is about 30 miles north of Las Vegas.
The family was in a 2008 motor home when it struck the back of a tractor-trailer. Alexis, 17, and Amanda, 15, both died at the scene. Their mother suffered serious back injuries.
Friends put up ribbons at the family's home Friday to show their support and love with each girl's favorite color.
Alexis Johnson attended school at Lone Peak High School, and her younger sister, Amanda, was a student at Mountain Ridge Junior High. Close friends say they will be missed.
"They were always a really good example to me. They were just happy all the time. I never ever saw either of them sad. And, I don't know, they were kinda like the people that, you know, you were comfortable with 'cause they were so comfortable with themselves that it was just easy to be around them and easy to talk to them," friend Alex Bunce said.
Friends of Alexis are planning a tribute to her when they return to school on Monday. They will all be wearing orange to Lone Peak High School that day, since it was her favorite color. A Facebook memorial page has also been set up by her friends.
We understand the Johnson family is still in Las Vegas and funeral arrangements for the two sisters are still being finalized.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
