During the “100 deadliest days” of summer on Utah’s highways this year, 102 people died — up from 90 a year earlier. Mariana Sablan, 18, of Tooele, was almost No. 103.
She was driving with her boyfriend on July 21 on State Route 73 in the desert between Tooele and Utah counties. She became distracted while talking, veered and found the car rolling — at least three times. She cried out “I’m sorry” repeatedly as the car’s front and rear took turns smashing, and then finally stopped.
“My passenger said, ‘You know what just happened right? We’re alive and it’s because of seat belts.