By Keri De Groot
Three teens who were killed in a car crash Wednesday night were not wearing seatbelts, a factor which may have led to their deaths.
The 16-year-old Springville driver of a 2004 Mustang lost control of his car while coming out of Hobble Creek Canyon around 10 p.m., said Springville police Lt. Dave Caron. The car veered sideways around a corner and slid into oncoming traffic where it was broadsided by a 1999 Suburban.
The Mustang, carrying four other passengers, was traveling at a high speed, though it appears alcohol was not involved.
Tasha Brammer, 18, of Mapleton and Katelyn Gabbitas, 16, of Springville were thrown from the Mustang and Brady Conger, 17, of Springville remained in the back seat. All three teens died at the scene.
Both the 16-year-old driver and front passenger of the Mustang were wearing seat belts, but the three passengers in the back were not seat belted, Caron said.
But had Conger been wearing a seatbelt, he probably still would have been killed because of where he was seated, Caron said.
“As far as the two girls are concerned, it [wearing seat belts] may have increased their chance of survival, but there is no way to tell,” Caron said.
The 58-year-old driver of the suburban, Marshal Romney, and his son Miles, 26, were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. They were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Caron said. They were released later that night.
The Mustang”s driver and front passenger were treated on the scene for minor injuries. One of them was taken to the hospital for observation and released the following day, Caron said.
“Your chances are much better of surviving a crash or having little or no injuries if you wear your seatbelt at all times,” said Capt. Michael Harroun of the BYU Police Department.
There has been enough study and experience that even at BYU where there are few fatal car accidents, students should be cautious and use their seatbelts at all times, Harroun said.
Ninety-nine percent of accidents at BYU are minor accidents, he said, but students can never be too cautious.
