Utah crash claims five from Richland family

DRAPER, Utah — A motor home with 10 members of a Washington family inside went out of control and fell off a windy interstate overpass Sunday, killing a man and four young children, authorities said.

Two women and an 8-year-old boy were flown to area hospitals in critical condition, Utah Highway Patrol trooper Anthony Carrubba said.

Two other children — a 14-year-old boy and another 8-year-old boy — had less serious injuries.

The names of the victims were not immediately released until grandparents in West Richland were notified, said Carrubba.

The driver, thought to be in his 40s, was killed instantly, Carrubba said. The other victims were a 5-month-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, a 6-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.

The 30-foot motor home was northbound on Interstate 15 near Draper, about 20 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City, when it went into the median, Carrubba said.

The vehicle went airborne after crashing through a guardrail. Carrubba said the motor home flew about 100 feet in the air before it landed nose-first on the highway, about 30 feet below the interstate bridges.

"It basically skidded back up the cement structure and ended up basically between the two freeways back up on top," Patrol Lt. Steve Meyer.

"There were no skid marks," Carrubba said when asked if there was any attempt by the driver to stop before the 1:38 p.m. Mountain Standard Time accident.

The cause of the accident remained under investigation. Northern Utah has been hit by a crippling winter storm, but the interstate was clear and dry at the time of the accident.

"The road conditions were fine," Carrubba said.

The motor home remained on the sloping hill hours after the accident, secured by two steel tow ropes, one holding it from above on the interstate and the other from the highway below.

The vehicle, lying on its side, was visibly bowed from the accident.