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UTAH COUNTY — A 30-year-old man is dead and two others were seriously injured after a two-car crash on SR-68 in Utah County early Sunday morning, police said.
According to trooper Cameron Roden of Utah Highway Patrol, emergency crews were alerted of a crash on a rural section of the road closest to Goshen around milepost 10 shortly after 5:30 a.m.
He said two cars, a 1993 Nissan Altima and a 2000 Toyota Avalon, were traveling southbound when one of the vehicles traveling faster than the other made contact with the other in an attempt to pass it.
Both vehicles went off the road and rolled.
"One of (the vehicles) ended up out in the field and the other one ended up rolling and coming back on (the road) and blocking the southbound lane," Roden said.
Roden said it appeared that none of the occupants in either vehicle were wearing seatbelts and each were ejected from the vehicle.
The driver of the Altima, Delfino Morales, 30, from Payson, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle, Ernesto Ramos, also from Payson, was seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital, Roden said.
The driver of the Avalon, Luis A. Barralaga, 61, from Payson, was also airlifted with serious injuries.
Investigators are still unsure which vehicle was trying to pass the other and that police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident, Roden said. He also said that it is unclear if speed or alcohol were a factor in the crash.
In addition, Roden added that it's an important reminder to drive safely on the road, especially with more vehicles out on the roadways during the summer.
"We just encourage people to really take their driving seriously," Roden said. "Avoid any distractions, please wear your seat belt and watch your speed."
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
