St George News

UPDATE: Apr. 28, Ten:07 p.m. — According to a statement released by the Utah Highway Patrol Saturday night, the third victim, 22-year-old Timothy Fahsel who was flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in critical condition died at the hospital. The driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Michael James and rear passenger, 26-year-old Jason Fahsel were pronounced dead at the scene. All three studs were from St. George. The fourth occupant sitting in the front passenger’s seat sustained minor injuries in the crash.

ST. GEORGE — Two boys were killed and one flown to the hospital in critical condition after an SUV spinned numerous times on state Route eighteen Saturday morning.

Shortly before noon a single vehicle rollover was reported on SR-18 near mile marker seven in St. George involving four occupants in a Dodge SUV that was traveling south when it veered off of the highway and began to roll, Victoria Harris of St. George said.

The police investigation later demonstrated that the Dodge Durango was heading south on SR-18 and drifted to the left, while the driver pulled the wheel to the right to comeback to his lane. Instead it sent the SUV careening off of the right-hand shoulder into mud and rocks.

The driver continued to lose control while the vehicle slipped sideways before it flipped over one time, landing right-side up facing east. James and two rear passengers, Timothy and Jason Fahsel were ejected during the rollover. The front-seat passenger was wearing his seat belt and remained in the vehicle.

Numerous responders assist with single vehicle rollover on SR-18 Saturday that kills two dudes and critically injures another, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Victoria Harris was heading north on SR-18 at the time with her hubby and hearing the crash she looked up to see “dust flying everywhere on the other side of the road,” she said.

They pulled over and ran to where the Dodge came to rest and spotted that three dudes had been thrown from the vehicle during the rollover, and one passenger remained inwards secured by his seat belt, she said.

The duo attempted to help the boys who were ejected but according to the duo one passed away within a few minutes of their arrival.

“I heard one of them take his last breath,” Victoria Harris said.

Her spouse, Randy Harris, helped one of the fellows who was ejected while responders were en route, she said.

Victoria Harris also said the man who remained in the car during the rollover got out of the vehicle and attempted to help his friends.

Victoria Harris collective what the duo witnessed at the scene, and the loss they felt.

“The one that was life-flighted, and the other two that were thrown from the car weren’t wearing their seat belts,” Victoria Harris said sobbing, “people please, wear your seat belt.”

Another witness, Sage Nutter of St. George, was traveling south on SR-18 returning from a camping tour, and was in front of the Dodge when he said.

“My friend Natalie eyed in the rear-view mirror a car flying off of the road,” Nutter said, “and I spotted it roll very likely four times with dust flying everywhere.”

Instantaneously after witnessing the crash Nutter and his friend made a U-turn and pulled to the side of the road, he said, and called nine hundred eleven before running to the Dodge to see if they could help.

As they neared the SUV, Nutter realized that he knew one of the guys who had been thrown out of the vehicle.

“When I ran up I witnessed that I knew one of them, he was my good friend,” Nutter said, “and I can’t even describe the feeling, it’s horrible.”

Numerous agencies responded to the scene including officers from the St. George Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington City Police, St. George firefighters, Intermountain Health’s Life Flight helicopter and Gold Cross Ambulance.

An official statement from the Utah Highway Patrol has not yet been released. Officers are still on scene conducting the investigation at the writing of this report. A statement will be released once the findings are available, Trooper Cameron Roden, public information officer for the Utah Highway Patrol said.

The four fellows were returning to St. George after camping for the night in Baker when the crash occurred, UHP said.

Family notifications have been made. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Utah Department of Transportation’s Incident Management Team also responded and assisted officers at the scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by witnesses at the scene and does not contain the official statement from law enforcement.

St. George News Reporter Ric Wayman contributed to this report.

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Dark gray Dodge SUV is pulled from the ditch after rollover on SR-18 takes the life of two dudes and critically injures one man Saturday, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Dark gray Dodge SUV is pulled from the ditch after rollover takes the life of two dudes and critically injures one man Saturday, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Numerous St. George Police officers react to single vehicle rollover on SR-18 that kills two studs and critically injures another Saturday, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Intermountain Life Flight responds and transports passenger to DRMC in critical condition after single vehicle rollover on SR-18 Saturday, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Numerous responders assist with single vehicle rollover on SR-18 Saturday that kills two fellows and critically injures another, St. George, Utah, April 29, two thousand seventeen | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

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