West Valley City crash leaves 15-year-old student dead, 4 others injured

MAGNA, Utah (ABC4) — A 15-year-old girl is dead following a rollover crash in West Valley City on Tuesday morning that injured four other Cyprus High School students. According to the West Valley City Police Department, the crash happened near 4100 South and 8400 West in West Valley City around 10:50 a.m. One 15-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Four additional students were transported to the hospital, and four were not injured. Roxeanne Vainuku, deputy director of communications for West Valley City Police Department, told ABC4 that a group of nine students left Cyprus High School in an SUV, and they were traveling on some back roads in the Cyprus High School area. The students were driving eastbound on a dirt road when the vehicle rolled. It was a single vehicle crash. The four students who were injured sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate. Police do not know what caused the rollover, but Vainuku said that initial investigations indicate that speed may have been a factor. However, investigators are continuing to evaluate the scene to determine the cause. Additionally, police believe that the victim who was ejected was not wearing a seatbelt, but Vainuku said that they don't know if any of the other students in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts. "There were nine kids in there, and so that tells you, you know, just based on the number of seatbelts, whether everyone had a seatbelt or not," she explained. Vainuku said that next of kin have been notified. "We won't be releasing any names, because it's our understanding that all of the people in that vehicle are juveniles, and certainly, the deceased is a juvenile," she explained. Magna City Government Posted on social media that residents and students at Cyprus High will no longer be able to use the dirt portion of 4100 South west of 8400 West, where the accident happened. It will be closed for the "foreseeable future." Anyone using that portion of road previously will now have to use Cordero Drive instead. Maea Foa, media specialist for community outreach for Granite School District, told ABC4, "At this time, we just want the public to know that our crisis team is available for support for students, staff, and families. They're actually on campus right now today, tomorrow, and as long as needed, and then we also have additional resources on our homepage website." Those resources include a variety of mental health and crisis support, which you can find on the Granite School District website here. Foa added that communication was constant between the school, staff, and families. "We love each and every one of our students, and we take situations like this very seriously. We are very heartbroken as a district, and are here to support the resources that are needed," Foa said. Cyprus High School sent the following message to parents following the incident. "We are saddened to inform you that there was a tragic traffic accident near our school during lunchtime today involving students. We are still collaborating with emergency responders to confirm details, and we will share more information with you as appropriate," the school said. The school added that they cannot confirm the names of any of the victims of the accident, information and questions have circulated around the student body and staff. There were also members of the school district's crisis response team at the high school on Tuesday to provide support. "Some students chose to meet with members of the crisis team for support. If your child met with a crisis team member today, you will be notified. Support will continue to be available to students moving forward," the school concluded. Magna Mayor Mick Sudbury also released a statement in the wake of the crash, writing, "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of a 15-year-old Cyprus High student following Tuesday morning's rollover accident in West Valley City Near the border of Magna." He added that four other students, including the driver of the vehicle, were taken to the hospital.