Pregnant mom, unborn child, two boys die in I-15 crash

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 1:23 p.m.

A North Las Vegas family, including a pregnant mother, her unborn child and two boys, died in the rollover of a Ford Explorer on Interstate 15 in Utah on Monday as they were returning to Southern Nevada.

The mother, 38-year-old Iris Acuna of North Las Vegas, died at the scene on Interstate 15 near Mona, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Cameron Roden.

Emergency medical crews rushed the mother and her unborn child to a hospital, but physicians were unable to save the 20-week-old fetus, Roden said.

Two boys, 17-year-old Arnold Perez and 11-year-old Edwin Martinez, of North Las Vegas, also were killed at the scene of the rollover that occurred about 4:45 p.m. Las Vegas time, Roden said.

A total of seven people were in the Explorer at the time of the wreck, and only one person wore a seat belt, Roden said. Five of the passengers were ejected and one was partially ejected.

Four other children, 19, 14, 4 and 2 years of age, were taken to three area hospitals. Three were in fair condition and one had serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Roden said. Two were taken to a hospital near Nephi, one was taken to Utah Regional Medical Center and a fourth was transported to Primary Children's Hospital. Both the Regional Medical Center and the children's hospital are in Salt Lake City.

A preliminary investigation indicated a tire unraveled, causing the Ford Explorer's driver to lose control, Roden said.

Witnesses told traffic investigators that the tread of one tire detached, which caused the Explorer to weave back and forth on the road and the driver lost control.