Utah
7-year-old boy killed in southern Utah crash; driver suspected of DUI, police say
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WASHINGTON, Washington County — A 7-year-old boy died in a three-vehicle crash in Washington, in Washington County, on Friday evening in what police say was caused by a drunk driver running a stop sign.
Washington police said the crash occurred at 200 S. 100 East about 5:35 p.m. Police officers only saw two vehicles at the scene when they arrived — a white Volkswagen Jetta and a blue Ford Focus. The third vehicle, a white Ford Expedition, left the area after the collision, police said in a news release.
Emergency medical care was given to several occupants involved in the crash, and CPR was administered to the 7-year-old boy. The boy was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to St. George Regional Medical Center, where he later passed away from his injuries.
Four other occupants in the two vehicles were also transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
Police said they believe the Ford Expedition was traveling east on 200 South and was approaching 100 East when it ran the stop sign and collided with the Volkswagen. The Volkswagen then spun into oncoming traffic and entered the northbound travel lane, where it was hit by the Ford Focus.
The driver of the Ford Expedition drove off, but the vehicle was located close to the scene by Washington police. The driver was taken into custody. Police suspect the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash and the driver told officers he used his cellphone right before the accident, police said in the news release.
The driver was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. His name has not yet been released.