This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Highway Patrol has identified a woman and a young boy killed last week in an SUV rollover accident on Interstate 70 near Green River.
UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said that Maria Gonzalez, 23, and Victor Perez, 7, both of Long Beach, Calif., died after being ejected from the vehicle as it rolled about 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.
The SUV was eastbound when it drifted off the left side of the road, overcorrected while attempting to return to the highway, rolled, and careened down an embankment. The vehicle ejected seven of its nine occupants before coming to a stop on the driver's side.
The 25-year-old male driver remained in critical condition Monday at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. The six other passengers — a 30-year-old woman and five children ages 1 to 8, also from Long Beach — were recovering from less serious injuries.
The accident remained under investigation, but troopers believe many of those ejected were not wearing seat belts.
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