Separate accidents in Utah County kill woman and teenager

PROVO — Separate accidents in Utah County claimed the lives of two people on Thursday.

A 68-year-old Bountiful woman died after being ejected from a car in a collision on I-15.

Utah Highway Patrol troopers said another vehicle side-swiped the car that Linda G. Jones was driving, knocking the car into the outermost concrete barrier.

Jones and 70-year-old Gordon Jones, who was in the passenger seat, were both ejected from the car. They were transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Linda Jones was in critical condition, and UHP trooper Cameron Roden said she either died en route or at the hospital from injuries sustained in the crash.

Gordon Jones was taken in serious condition but is expected to survive.

Their car traveled an additional 100 feet down I-15 before stopping, UHP troopers said. Roden said that neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

Occupants in the other vehicle were in fair condition.

UHP troopers said they don't know what caused the first vehicle to veer into the far right lane and are still investigating the crash.

No citations have been issued.

Also Thursday, a teenage girl was killed in a collision near Birdseye on U.S. 89.

Shalice M. Henrie, 17, of Birdseye, was heading north on U.S. 89 when she lost control and crossed over into the southbound lane and crashed head-on with another vehicle just after 7:30 a.m., the Utah Highway Patrol reported.

The teenager was transported in critical condition to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center but died a short time later.

The driver of the second vehicle was hospitalized with minor injuries.

It's unknown what caused Henrie to lose control, but the UHP reported the road was covered in snow. Troopers are continuing to investigate.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

e-mail: lgroves@desnews.com