Moab-area rollover kills 1, injures 13

Published: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 9:54 p.m. MDT
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One woman was killed and 13 others were injured Tuesday after a van transporting a group of immigrants rolled near Moab.

About 6:45 a.m., a 2000 minivan rolled on U.S. 191 just north of Wilson Arch.

"The vehicle went off the road. The driver overcorrected," Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Wade Breur said.

The northbound van rolled and landed in the oncoming traffic lane.

"We believe at least three people were ejected," Breur said.

Investigators believe there were 16 people inside the vehicle. But as of Tuesday afternoon, authorities had only accounted for 15.

"Witnesses are saying the driver took off running," Breur said. "We haven't confirmed that. We have no information on him."

A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that agency hadn't been contacted by local Utah officials to investigate whether the van's occupants were documented or undocumented workers.

U.S. 191 is a common route for illegal immigrants heading to Colorado or the Midwest for work.

The van had been in Phoenix and was traveling to Denver, Breur said.

Some of the other occupants of the van were from South America, and at least one was from India, he said.

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The middle seat of the vehicle had been removed to make room for more people, Breur said. None of the occupants was believed to be wearing seat belts.

"They were just crammed into this thing," he said.

Investigators suspect drowsy driving may have been a factor.

"All indicators are (the driver) fell asleep at the wheel," Breur said.

A 20-year-old woman from Mexico died at the scene. Her name was not released Tuesday pending notification of family.

One person was taken by medical helicopter to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. Two others were transported to Moab in critical condition and were expected to be moved to other hospitals, Breur said.

Three others were taken to Moab, but it was not clear if they suffered injuries. Eight men were taken to a hospital in Monticello with minor to serious injuries.


E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

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Department of Public Safety

A minivan that apparently carried 16 immigrants crashed Tuesday on U.S. 191 north of Wilson Arch.

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