FATAL ACCIDENT • A bad tire caused three people to lose their lives in this accident east of Mona on Monday. Dead were Iris Acuna, 39; Arnold Perez, 17 and Edwin Martinez age 12. Photo courtesy UHP
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
An SUV rolled over after a rear tire lost tread on I-15 near Mona Monday evening killing three people.
A family of seven from North Los Vegas were southbound, headed toward Nevada, in a1991 Ford Explorer traveling on Interstate 15 near Mona about 5:45 p.m., when the vehicle rolled off the road, ejecting five passengers and partially ejecting a sixth.
Two teens were killed at the scene along with their pregnant mother, Iris Acuna, 39, driver of the vehicle.
Arnold M. Perez, 17, and Edwin Anthony Martinez, 12, died at the scene.
Both were taken to Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi. None of the dead were wearing seatbelts.
Carlos Enrique Martinez Jr., 5, was taken to Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi with minor trauma; Michael Perez, 19, had shoulder injuries and was also taken by ambulance to CVMC; George B. Perez, 15, had broken bones and was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo; and Andres Isaiah Perez, 1, suffered head injuries and was taken to Primary children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Isaiah Perez was riding in an unsecured car seat
Only one person, Michael Perez, was wearing a seatbelt.
“The vehicle was traveling southbound on I-15 near the Mona Exit at mile post 233,” said Hoby Metz, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt.
“The driver, Iris Acuna, lost control of her vehicle when the tread of the right rear tire came off,” he said. “The vehicle skidded counterclockwise into the median, where it began to overturn and then rolled several times, ejecting six of the seven occupants.”
One of the victims remained inside the vehicle.
The SUV came to rest on its top at the edge of the freeway facing north.
“The driver, who was pregnant, was deceased at the scene and her unborn child passed away at CVMC a short time later,” said Metz. “There were four confirmed fatal injuries, which included the unborn child.”
Three of the surviving victims were reported in fair condition on Tuesday.
The mother was 20-weeks pregnant and medical personnel tried to save the baby but were unsuccessful.
Six agencies responded to the scene, said Metz.
Witnesses said the tread of one tire detached, causing the driver to weave back and forth on the road and lose control, Metz said. Investigators do not know how many of the Explorer’s occupants were wearing safety belts.
A complete closure of north-bound lanes of traffic on I-15 was required while the accident victims were being cared for by emergency personnel.
