Officials: 2 Utah children dead after man on meth crashes into play area

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — Two 3-year-old Utah boys have died after a man reportedly on meth crashed into the area where they were playing, according to officials.

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Utah County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) in a press release say the two boys were killed instantly when a 25-year-old man, later identified as Kent Cody Barlow, crashed into their play area in Eagle Mountain. UCSO identified the boys as Odin Ratliff and Hunter Jackson.

The crash happened Monday around 7:20 p.m. deputies responded to reports of a car that crashed into a horse stable. When deputies arrived on scene, they confirmed that the two boys were dead.

KSL TV say witnesses told deputies the car was driving recklessly into oncoming traffic, possibly traveling at over 100 mph prior to the crash. The car hit a bump and lost control before hitting multiple fences. The car then “launched into the air” and crashed into the horse stables upside down.

Two 3 year old boys died when the driver of a car left the roadway, crashing into them as they played in the sand in a corral. Both boys died instantly. The driver has been booked into jail. https://t.co/2wxrvNc2Zc pic.twitter.com/SXIJRqZpXG
— Utah County Sheriff (@UCSO) May 3, 2022

UCSO say this is when the car landed in a corral where the two boys were playing. There were three people inside the car, all of whom were seriously injured. Deputies and detectives with UCSO say that they had evidence that Barlow was impaired at the time of the crash, and an early drug screen test came back positive for methamphetamine.

Barlow has been booked on recommended charges, including two counts of automobile homicide/DUI, possession of a controlled substance, DUI with serious bodily injury, two counts of DUI with personal injury, reckless driving, and other additional charges. Barlow, according to UCSO, is currently on parole with the Utah Department of Adult Probation & Parole.

“We of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office express our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of these two sweet boys. Their loss is a senseless tragedy and we can only imagine the depth of the grief now being carried by their families. Our prayers are with them as they walk this incredibly difficult path.,” says UCSO.

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