A crash in Utah kills five people, including a couple from Brooklyn Center

A chain-reaction traffic accident in Utah killed a total of five people, four of whom were from the Twin Cities, including a couple from Brooklyn Center, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred on Thursday, September 26, in central Utah near the town of Price on Highway 6.

The crash killed Sang Her, 56, and Lee Thao, 38, both of Brooklyn Center.

Also killed were Bee Moua, 26, and Mai Lor, 25, both of St. Paul.

KSL-TV in Salt Lake City reported that Lor was pregnant and that she and Moua were married earlier this year.

A fifth person, Gustavo Mendoza, 35, of Helper, Utah, also died in the crash.

The four Minnesotans were with a church group when they were attacked.

What happened

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, a truck pulling two trailers turned and passed an SUV that was attempting to enter the highway. The truck lost control, crossed a median into oncoming traffic and crashed into a Nissan Rogue carrying the four Minnesotans, the patrol said. The truck eventually pushed the Nissan into a rocky embankment.

“It was a very violent accident,” said Sgt. Chris Pugliese of the Utah Highway Patrol.

The fifth victim, Mendoza, was driving an SUV along the side of the road when he was struck and killed.

The truck driver and the driver and passenger of the SUV that caused the chain accident were not seriously injured.

Brooklyn Center