One man's decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence has caused two Utah families immeasurable pain.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a car that had veered off the road and flipped into a horse stable. When officers arrived, they found the situation was a lot more devastating than anticipated.
Witnesses told police that the car had been driving recklessly for the length of the road. The vehicle, driven by Kent Cody Barlow, plowed through a stop sign and veered off the road, through several fences, and ended up going airborne and flipping. When all was said and done, he was alive. But two 3-year-old little boys playing on the property he'd veered into were killed.
"Witnesses told Deputies they saw the car driving recklessly, weaving or drifting into oncoming traffic, traveling near or faster than 100 MPH, and running a stop sign immediately before crashing," a statement from the UCSO reads.
"The car went off the paved road to the right, shattered a vinyl rail fence, smashed through a five rail steel pole fence, smashed through another section of that same steel pole fence, then crashed through a fence panel corral, then hit a large cement block anchored in the ground, launched into the air, and then into a lean-to style set of horse stables, coming to a stop upside down. Passengers in the car told deputies Barlow was traveling 80-100 mph and was 'drifting' (sliding the car) as he drove."
When the car crashed through the corral fence, it hit two 3-year-old boys, Odin Ratliff and Hunter Jackson, who were playing in the sand. The car ran into them and left their bodies 75 feet from where they had been sitting. Authorities believe they died instantly.
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"From where the car first left the pavement, to where it came to rest, was about 345 feet," the UCSO said.
Barlow was seriously injured in the crash and flown to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. After assessment, they determined he suffered bruises and abrasions but no broken bones, so he was treated and released.
There were three passengers in the car at the time of the crash. Two passengers were treated and released at Utah Valley Hospital. A third passenger was treated at Mountain Point Hospital in Lehi.
Barlow then had to deal with police, who found that he was under the influence of methamphetamines at the time of the accident. Barlow, who was out on parole, was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree felony automobile homicide/DUI with criminal negligence, third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance, third-degree felony DUI with serious bodily injury by negligent operation, two counts of class A misdemeanor DUI with personal injury, class B misdemeanor reckless driving, failure to operate within a single lane, failure to obey traffic control device, and speeding.
"We of the Utah County Sheriff's Office express our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of these two sweet boys," the UCSO statement concluded.
"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."
A GoFundMe page has been created to provide funds for funeral services and other financial support to the families of these two toddlers. Thus far, it has raised over $90,000, to be equally split between families.
