Police have released the name of a 15-year-old Utah girl who was struck and killed by a car Friday in Lehi.
Arely Hernandez-Cuenca died shortly after she was hit by the car, throwing both her and her 13-year-old brother about 100 feet, according to police.
The boy suffered critical injuries, but is expected to survive.
The teens were waiting at crossing island at 3600 West 2100 North when a car struck them at about 4:30 p.m Friday, police said. The vehicle, a silver Chrysler 300, was traveling eastbound from Redwood Road when it left the road and hit the two teenagers, throwing them onto a grassy median.
Sergeant Drew Olson said arriving first responders performed lifesaving efforts on the children. Arely was taken by helicopter to a hospital, while her brother was taken by ambulance.
Arely succumbed to her injuries at about 7 p.m. on Friday. The boy is expected to recover after suffering internal injuries and “several lower extremity injuries.”
The man who was driving the vehicle is under investigation by Lehi police. Olson said impairment is “being weighed as a possible factor” in the crash, which remains under investigation.
According to a GoFundMe page organized for Arely’s family, she was “one of the goofiest and most lovable people you could have the opportunity to meet. Your day was better having spent time with her. She was an angel and will always be remembered as such.”
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised more than $14,000.
— Tribune staff writer Scott D. Pierce contributed to this report.
