CACHE COUNTY, Utah — A 10-year-old girl died Sunday in a Utility Task Vehicle crash just outside of Paradise, and police say the girl’s 13-year-old brother was driving the vehicle.
According to a press release from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. to 1100 East and 8600 South, which is an area of Cache County just outside the Paradise city limits.
Investigators determined a 13-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister were riding on the UTV when the vehicle went off the roadway. The driver tried to correct the maneuver but struck a large dumpster on the side of the road.
The young girl was taken to Logan Regional Hospital by ambulance with a head injury, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The 13-year-old boy was not injured. The names of those involved are not being released out of respect for the family, police stated.
Lt. Mike Peterson, Cache County Sheriff’s Office, said the UTV is equipped with seat belts. He said they believe the juveniles were restrained, but it appears they were not wearing helmets.
Under Utah law, anyone ages 8-15 may operate an off-highway vehicle such as an ATV, UTV or motorcycle on public lands and roads, provided they complete an OHV safety course. Lt. Peterson said it was not immediately clear if the juvenile in this incident had completed such a course, and he said the investigation into the accident is ongoing with the assistance of Utah Highway Patrol.
“It’s really a tragedy what this family went through,” he said.
Fox 13 News will have more information as it becomes available.
