MILLARD COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 2, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Sandy woman has been charged with three counts of manslaughter following a head-on crash in Millard County that left three members of the same family dead and a fourth critically injured.
Court documents indicate Jennifer Diamond, 42, has been charged with three counts of second-degree felony manslaughter, one count of second-degree felony aggravated assault and one count of class B misdemeanor reckless driving.
Sgt. Todd Royce, Utah Highway Patrol, told Gephardt Daily that the crash happened at about 8:46 p.m. June 19 on State Route 50, near Scipio in Millard County.
The deceased were subsequently identified as Tyrone Bova, 47, from Archdale, North Carolina, who was driving the black 2017 Ford Fusion involved in the crash; his wife, Holly Jo Bova, 43, a front seat passenger in the Fusion; and their son Haden Bova, 11, who was in the back seat.
A 17-year-old male passenger, also their son, was in very critical condition, and was transported to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
The family was in Utah on vacation.
A white 2016 Porsche Cayenne driven by Diamond was traveling east on S.R. 50, the UHP statement said. The driver passed another vehicle, then stayed left of center and did not return to her lane immediately. The Porsche then struck the Ford Fusion head-on.
The Porsche flipped over onto its roof and the second car was forced backwards and off the side of the road, officials said. The vehicles then caught fire, with the occupants still pinned inside and unable to get out.
A passerby cut the seat belts from the passengers of the Porsche and helped them escape the fire.
All four occupants of the Ford Fusion had to be extricated. Fire crews arrived in time to prevent the fire from overtaking any of the occupants. Both front seat occupants of the Ford Fusion, Holly Jo and Tyrone Bova, were killed instantly and their 11-year-old son passed away en route to Primary Children’s Hospital.
The crash left Diamond in injured but in stable condition and her 9-year-old passenger in critical condition.
Investigators looked at speed and distraction as being factors in the crash. Officials said there were dogs in the Porsche and they may have caused the driver to be distracted.
Diamond’s first court appearance will be in Millard County on Aug. 29.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
There has been no follow up to this story. I believe her first hearing should have already occurred. I’ve tried getting an update but heard the records are sealed.