Three Nevadans remain hospitalized from Utah I-15 rollover

A 4-year-old girl remained in critical condition Wednesday, while the driver and another child were listed as serious two days after the SUV they were in crashed on Interstate 15 in southern Utah's Beaver County.

Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said the girl, Alexa Clayton, of Las Vegas, Nev., remained critical at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. She suffered neck injuries in the accident, which occurred Monday afternoon when the Ford Explorer she and four others were riding in blew a tire and rolled on southbound I-15 near mile post 99, according to the UHP.

The driver, Patrick A. Clayton, 31, of Las Vegas, was in serious condition Wednesday at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. His 6-year-old son, Patrick, was listed as serious at Primary Children's Medical Center.

Passengers Eva Enriquez Plascen, 26, and Jorge Gallardo Enriquez, 9, both of Las Vegas, had been released from local hospitals by Wednesday, Johnson said.

UHP also said it had learned that the 4-year-old girl likely owed her life to off-duty Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Clifford Fontaine. He came upon the accident scene immediately after the crash and found the girl not breathing. Fontaine administered CPR and got the girl breathing again, Johnson said.

UHP says speed, in addition to the failed tire, was believed to be a factor in the crash.

The two younger children — the only occupants of the SUV who were not wearing seat belts — were ejected from the vehicle when it rolled, the UHP reported.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims