WASHINGTON COUNTY — A family of five was transported to the hospital Monday morning after a father fell asleep behind the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near St. George. The mother of the family and her 9-year-old son are in critical condition as a result of the crash.
At approximately 6:48 a.m., a white GMC Yukon occupied by its driver, Gonzalo Garcia, his wife, Silvia Garcia-Quinones, and their three children – two girls, ages 7 and 10, and a 9-year-old boy – was northbound on I-15, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce said.
The family was traveling through Washington County near milepost 3, three miles from the Arizona-Utah border, when the driver of the SUV apparently fell asleep, Highway Patrol officials said.
As the SUV began drifting off the Interstate to the left and into the dirt median, the driver awoke and overcorrected, Royce said, crossing back over the Interstate to the right and onto the dirt shoulder. As the SUV rotated, the wheels on the vehicle dug into the dirt, causing the SUV to roll at least twice.
Silvia Garcia-Quinones and her 9-year-old boy were ejected from the SUV as it rolled, Royce said. The SUV then came to rest on its wheels, facing west on the right shoulder of the Interstate.
All five occupants of the SUV were subsequently transported via ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.
The 9-year-old boy, who was the most seriously injured and suffered internal bleeding, was then transported by Life Flight medical helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.
Silvia Garcia-Quinones is in stable but critical condition as a result of the crash, Royce said. The 7-year-old and 10-year-old girls are reportedly in good condition.
Utah Highway Patrol officials said they believe Silva Garcia and the 9-year-old boy were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and that the other three occupants appeared to have been seat belted.
Driver fatigue is believed to be the cause of the rollover, Royce said, adding that speed, drugs or alcohol are not suspected contributing factors of the crash.
The family is reportedly from Azusa, California.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News A family of five from Azusa, California, was transported to the hospital after the father fell asleep at the wheel of an SUV and crashed along Interstate 15 near milepost 3, leaving a mother and her 9-year-old son in critical condition, St. George, Utah, Aug. 8, 2016 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News
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This is sad. Hope the boy recovers. Are they legal?
Have a nice day Ladybug ♡♡♡
What does whether or not they are legal have to do with anything? Hope they recover.
It has nothing to do with their recovery. Hope they heal. It has everything to do with my fight against illegal immigration. 🙂
Good question !
I take it that you all haven’t lived in or around Azusa, Ca. It’s ok. I understand.
Wow, and wow, I’m beginning to think you’re legally nuts bug. How do you even come up with remarks like that?
I hope they recover, and I hope this will be a seat belt lesson.
It’s better than being illegally nuts lol
You know deep down inside you love me. And for a moment reading my comments makes you feel better ❤️
I think I’ll break out into some Brooks and Dunn ” You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone”
This is very tragic and sad but hopefully they will both recover .my prayers and thoughts two the family .may the good lord watch over them
Where was this good lord before the accident?
The good Lord isn’t a genie.
So this all powerful label is just a metaphor? If nothing on this earth matters, then why is it you stick around?
You seem to be a little lost of reality.
Because I’ve got work to do. God hasn’t taken me home yet.
Who knows Theone when my time is, it could be any second, but my family can rest assure that I didn’t deny Jesus in front of them or all of you.
Have a blessed day ❤️
would you like to accept the free gift of salvation? Would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and savior? Just profess to God that you are a sinner and ask for forgiveness and say you want Jesus to come into your heart❤️ and make Jesus your Lord and savior.
Then you will see that nothing on this earth really matters it’s all about salvation. And with God all things are possible. Many sufferings come to believers for the purpose to share the miracles of overcoming obstacles. (Like drug addiction for example) To God be the glory!
lol, this site needs a “report as spam” button for posts like this.
A button like that would make 3/4 of the STG news comments disappear overnight. (Yes, mine included).
Never underestimate the power of a ‘REPORT’ button in the hands of lunatics and STG commenters.
BTW, your comment would have lasted only minutes…there is an army of trolls on this site looking for fresh meat like you…
Keep your testimony where it belongs, not here. I don’t put up with the Easter bunny or Santa Claus either. Your interpretation of Jesus might work for you, but quit forcing it down everyone’s throat please.
LBA, the LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST would like you to stop being an alcoholic 😉
You know I’m not an alcoholic Bob. You acknowledged Jesus too….my work here is done. Y’all take care. ❤️
You’re going down a dead end road. So now take your little heart with Jesus, turn around, go back through that road and all its BS (but this time Jesus is walking with you) and come out the other side refined as fire ❤️
Please call a help line ! They have a place for you. For Jesus’ sake, call them. Even though they call it the psych ward, it’ll actually help when they give you the anti psychotic medication. For the live of god, get some mental help !
At least I got you to acknowledge Jesus, God , and the love of God. There’s hope for you ?
I acknowledge you are a true believer in fairy tales.
Very good:
“…Royce said, adding that speed, drugs or alcohol are not suspected contributing.”
Very unfortunate:
“Utah Highway Patrol officials said they believe Silva Garcia and the 9-year-old boy were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash (and that the other three occupants appeared to have been seat belted).”
Trump For President !