Midvale girl, 5, dies in Lehi crash

A 5-year-old Midvale girl died Sunday morning in a Lehi freeway crash.

Alondra Alavarado was in a rear seat of a Ford Explorer traveling south on Interstate 15. Near mile marker 284, the tread on the right rear tire separated and came off, though the tire did not deflate, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

About 7:05 a.m., the driver lost control of the Explorer and the vehicle struck the right concrete barrier and rolled onto the driver's side. Alondra was thrown from the vehicle and it rolled on top of her, causing fatal injuries, according to the UHP.

Alondra was one of three children in the Explorer. There were two booster seats and an infant car seat in the sport utility vehicle, but it appears that there was some improper use of Alondra's seatbelt with the booster seat, according to the UHP.

"It is highly likely that proper use of a seat belt with the booster seat would have prevented Alondra Alavarado from being ejected and killed in this crash," according to a UHP press release.

There is no indication that anyone else in the Explorer "was injured at all," said UHP Sgt. Jacob Cox.

"UHP pleads with all parents to make sure that your children are properly restrained at all times whenever you are traveling on any roadway," the release reads. "If you have questions on how to install a infant car seat, how to use a booster seat, or whether your child is ready to use the car's seat belts, you can come to your local UHP office or county health department and ask for someone who is trained in child passenger safety."

The troopers or county health officials will help people with that free of charge, according to the release.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda