Three dead, four injured in eastern Utah crash

The Utah Highway Patrol said the crash happened late Sunday night on State Route 24 in Emery County, near I-70. The Ford Excursion was headed north with seven people inside, towing a boat and a JetSki trailer.

"The trailer started to swerve and started wobbling and caused the vehicle to leave the road and come back on the road," said UHP trooper Jesse Valenzuela. "When it went off the pavement, it rolled."

Three people — an adult and two children — were killed. The UHP identified them as the driver, Darren J. Westerfield, 47; Tyler Keep, 15; and Alisa Keep, 7. All died from head injuries, UHP trooper Cameron Roden said.

The other members of the family had injuries ranging from moderate to serious. Medical helicopters from Salt Lake City and Grand Junction, Colo., were dispatched to the remote site to transport the remaining passengers to Castleview Hospital in Price.

"The hospital was experiencing a power outage for half the day," Valenzuela said.

Details about the survivors' condition is unknown.

Troopers said the deaths of Westerfield and the children mark the 10th since Thursday that the UHP has responded to. The holiday weekend was plagued with numerous crashes and a possible drowning at Utah Lake.

E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com

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