LEEDS – A single-vehicle rollover on Interstate 15 prompted a call to Life Flight for the driver.
Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said an adult female, was airlifted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas after her vehicle rolled on northbound I-15 at milepost 23 around 6:39 p.m.
According to the UHP, the driver, who has been identified as 31-year-old Holly R. Ventura, of Murray, was “driving at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.”
Ventura’s vehicle, a gold 2001 Nissan Maxima, went partially off into the center divider and over-corrected back across the two lanes and right shoulder of the roadway and went into the rocky brush area along I-15. The Nissan vaulted and rolled approximately three times, covering a distance of around 300-plus feet. It ultimately came to a stop in an upside down position.
The driver was wearing her seatbelt, yet sustained critical injuries due to massive damage done to the vehicle. She was the only occupant in the vehicle, and is listed in critical condition.
Northbound lanes were temporarily closed so Life Flight could land and takeoff.
Ed Note: Initial reports from the UHP and the Utah Department of Public Safety PIO Twitter account indicated the driver may have been ejected from the vehicle. An updated report from the UHP did not support this detail.
A single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near Leeds ejected the driver who was taken to Las Vegas via Life Flight, Leeds, Utah, May 25, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Brayden Bracken, St. George NewsA single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near Leeds ejected the driver who was taken to Las Vegas via Life Flight, Leeds, Utah, May 25, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Brayden Bracken, St. George NewsA single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near Leeds ejected the driver who was taken to Las Vegas via Life Flight, Leeds, Utah, May 25, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Brayden Bracken, St. George NewsA single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near Leeds ejected the driver who was taken to Las Vegas via Life Flight, Leeds, Utah, May 25, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Brayden Bracken, St. George NewsA single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near Leeds ejected the driver who was taken to Las Vegas via Life Flight, Leeds, Utah, May 25, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Brayden Bracken, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
St. George News Image
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mori Kessler serves as a Senior Reporter for St. George News, having previously contributed as a writer and Interim Editor in 2011-12, and an assistant editor from 2012 to mid-2014. He began writing news as a freelancer in 2009 for Today in Dixie, and joined the writing staff of St. George News in mid-2010. He enjoys photography and won an award for photojournalism from the Society of Professional Journalists for a 2018 photo of a bee inspector removing ferals bees from a Washington City home. He is also a shameless nerd and has a bad sense of direction.
Numerous reports say she wasn’t ejected and a lot of those include quotes from UHP. This lady is very lucky to be alive. Aggressive driving and speeding are the norm on I-15!
It would be smart if the average citizen would take note of only a few tragic stories like this one to overcome our minimizing attitudes. Sadly however, it may take many more train wrecks, an awful lot of human suffering before we learn to think twice. Not noticing strong gusts of wind is no excuse
My Dad and I drive a truck and stopped to help when we saw the cloud of dust. She was not ejected though. A good Samaritan saw she was choking on her vomit and pulled her out, setting her on her side. Called 911 and they gave us instructions on what to do until help arrived. We did not think she was wearing a seat belt, but if the car flipped multiple times a seat belt might not have mattered.
I am Holly’s sister and I can’t thank you enough for stopping and saving her life! Although she has a long road to recovery, we are confident that she will pull through. Most importantly, she did not sustain any brain injuries and has been able to talk with us.I would love to get in contact and hear your story. You can reach me at the listed email address.
I was driving north on I-15 when she passed me and I watched her as she over corrected and rolled I was the first on scene, she was hanging upside down by her seatbelt and was not breathing. I crawled in the car undid her seatbelt caught her, set her down began to pull her out when another gentleman ran up and helped me pull her out. We turned her on her side and I opened her mouth and cleared the vomit from her airway and she started breathing. I directed other people there to get some blankets and cover her up I asked her if she could hear me and she responded, she was trying to move around I told her I needed her to not move, she complied, I held her head and talked to her until paramedics arrived. I have been worried about her since the accident, I am so thankful she is going to be ok .I can be contacted at 702-600-4004
The local Red Cross just presented a first aid course yesterday and when the participants left I thought – maybe one life will be saved because these wonderful people took time out of this busy weekend to take this class. Although this rescue didn’t involve one of the class participants from our recent class, it sounds like you did everything just right, You are a hero and I’d love to hear more about this rescue.
Nick, My name is Christy, I was the one that was by your side helping you turn Holly over and talking to her, my husband and I helped pull her out of the car. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with your actions and quick thinking, I was so glad when she started to breathe again, and happy to know she will be ok.
Hi I was just speaking with a friend; I didn’t know this had happened but Holly was at just a wedding in Leeds that I was preciding over right before this incident. In fact we had a conversation right before she left, so I was stunned to find out this happened. I would really like to know if she is recovering and I want to send her wishes of encouragement and support. If there is any way someone can get her a message please tell her I am praying for her continued recovery.
We arrived on the seen just as the car stopped rolling my husband and I along w another gentleman ran to the vehicle where she was still in it and pulled her out, she was not breathing, we turned her to her side and the other gentleman cleared out her mouth, she started to gurgle so we got her back on her side to make sure the airway was opened, when she started to breathe again she got restless so we had to hold onto her and keep telling her to stay still, she was in rough shape I’m so glad to hear she will make it. I should of went w my gut and called 911 when I noticed the erratic driving, could of saved her ALOT of pain.
May 26, 2013 – 3:39 pm Reply
We arrived on the seen just as the car stopped rolling my husband and I along w another gentleman ran to the vehicle where she was still in it and pulled her out, she was not breathing, we turned her to her side and the other gentleman cleared out her mouth, she started to gurgle so we got her back on her side to make sure the airway was opened, when she started to breathe again she got restless so we had to hold onto her and keep telling her to stay still, she was in rough shape I’m so glad to hear she will make it. I should of went w my gut and called 911 when I noticed the erratic driving, could of saved her ALOT of pain.
Watched it roll coming home from Cedar. It was crazy. Looked like she got blown off the road by a gust of wind.
Numerous reports say she wasn’t ejected and a lot of those include quotes from UHP. This lady is very lucky to be alive. Aggressive driving and speeding are the norm on I-15!
It would be smart if the average citizen would take note of only a few tragic stories like this one to overcome our minimizing attitudes. Sadly however, it may take many more train wrecks, an awful lot of human suffering before we learn to think twice. Not noticing strong gusts of wind is no excuse
Can someone please give an update on her condition,if you know. Concerned citizens would like to know.
My Dad and I drive a truck and stopped to help when we saw the cloud of dust. She was not ejected though. A good Samaritan saw she was choking on her vomit and pulled her out, setting her on her side. Called 911 and they gave us instructions on what to do until help arrived. We did not think she was wearing a seat belt, but if the car flipped multiple times a seat belt might not have mattered.
I am Holly’s sister and I can’t thank you enough for stopping and saving her life! Although she has a long road to recovery, we are confident that she will pull through. Most importantly, she did not sustain any brain injuries and has been able to talk with us.I would love to get in contact and hear your story. You can reach me at the listed email address.
Jamie, will you please call me, 8014558636…. Glad to hear Holly will be ok.
I was driving north on I-15 when she passed me and I watched her as she over corrected and rolled I was the first on scene, she was hanging upside down by her seatbelt and was not breathing. I crawled in the car undid her seatbelt caught her, set her down began to pull her out when another gentleman ran up and helped me pull her out. We turned her on her side and I opened her mouth and cleared the vomit from her airway and she started breathing. I directed other people there to get some blankets and cover her up I asked her if she could hear me and she responded, she was trying to move around I told her I needed her to not move, she complied, I held her head and talked to her until paramedics arrived. I have been worried about her since the accident, I am so thankful she is going to be ok .I can be contacted at 702-600-4004
The local Red Cross just presented a first aid course yesterday and when the participants left I thought – maybe one life will be saved because these wonderful people took time out of this busy weekend to take this class. Although this rescue didn’t involve one of the class participants from our recent class, it sounds like you did everything just right, You are a hero and I’d love to hear more about this rescue.
Nick, My name is Christy, I was the one that was by your side helping you turn Holly over and talking to her, my husband and I helped pull her out of the car. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with your actions and quick thinking, I was so glad when she started to breathe again, and happy to know she will be ok.
Hi I was just speaking with a friend; I didn’t know this had happened but Holly was at just a wedding in Leeds that I was preciding over right before this incident. In fact we had a conversation right before she left, so I was stunned to find out this happened. I would really like to know if she is recovering and I want to send her wishes of encouragement and support. If there is any way someone can get her a message please tell her I am praying for her continued recovery.
Ed Note: Corroborate, not collaborate. Come on.
We arrived on the seen just as the car stopped rolling my husband and I along w another gentleman ran to the vehicle where she was still in it and pulled her out, she was not breathing, we turned her to her side and the other gentleman cleared out her mouth, she started to gurgle so we got her back on her side to make sure the airway was opened, when she started to breathe again she got restless so we had to hold onto her and keep telling her to stay still, she was in rough shape I’m so glad to hear she will make it. I should of went w my gut and called 911 when I noticed the erratic driving, could of saved her ALOT of pain.
May 26, 2013 – 3:39 pm Reply
We arrived on the seen just as the car stopped rolling my husband and I along w another gentleman ran to the vehicle where she was still in it and pulled her out, she was not breathing, we turned her to her side and the other gentleman cleared out her mouth, she started to gurgle so we got her back on her side to make sure the airway was opened, when she started to breathe again she got restless so we had to hold onto her and keep telling her to stay still, she was in rough shape I’m so glad to hear she will make it. I should of went w my gut and called 911 when I noticed the erratic driving, could of saved her ALOT of pain.