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Man, teen killed in rollover crash near Vernal

Posted at 7:36 AM, Jul 27, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-27 21:33:11-04

VERNAL, Utah — A man and a juvenile from Vernal are dead after a rollover accident that occurred near Vernal Saturday night.

Uintah County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of 6000 North and Dry Fork Canyon Road on a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash.

Witnesses on scene told officials that there were two occupants – one was dead and the other was in extremely critical condition, according to press release from Uintah County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the release, the victims were traveling south on Dry Fork Canyon Road at a high rate of speed just prior to the crash.

At some point it appears the driver lost control, drove off the west side of the roadway and up a dirt hill, according to the release. The vehicle rolled several times causing both occupants to be ejected.

It appears speed is the only factor — there is no evidence of alcohol, officials stated.

In a second press release issued later Sunday, police identified one of the occupants as 21-year-old Trevor Cuch of Vernal. The man suffered fatal injuries at the scene.

The second occupant was initially reported to be 18, but officials later determined the individual is a 15 year old from Vernal. The juvenile was transported to Ashley Regional Medical Center, where he died a short time later. The name of the juvenile victim will not be released at the request of his family, according to the press release.

The second press release stated the victims had borrowed the vehicle from a friend who lives in the area, which made it difficult initially for officials to identify the juvenile. The owner was eventually located after he called dispatch officials to report his friends were overdue in his vehicle.

Officials said it was not clear which of the two victims was driving when the accident occurred.