Two sisters seriously hurt when UTV rolls near Midway
Jun 4, 2018, 6:55 PM | Updated: Jun 5, 2018, 9:55 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Two young girls were seriously hurt in an UTV crash near Midway over the weekend. The 4-year-old and 5-year-old girls were riding with their parents when the Razer UTV they were riding overturned Saturday night. Both were flown to Primary Children’s Hospital with skull fractures and potential brain injuries.
Another young daughter was riding, as well, but it was her older two sisters who had the more serious injuries.
Rylinn Oaks, age 5, and her sister, Kaizley, age 4, were seriously hurt when the UTV their family was riding rolled near Midway, Utah. (Image courtesy GoFundMe page.)
The parents said the girls were making progress in their treatments, and they owe it to prayers and miracles.
“Watching your kids’ life hang in balance, I pray nobody ever has to go through those feelings,” said Van Oaks.
Riding the UTVs was nothing new for the family.
“It’s something that we do every weekend,” Oakes said. “We go up and we take a picnic. It’s like the Razor time is our family time.”
Van and Kim Oaks said they and their three daughters regularly rode their UTV. Daughters Rylinn and Kaizley were seriously hurt after the ATV rolled. (Photo courtesy GoFundMe page.)
The Oakes family was riding in the UTV, returning to Midway after dinner. They were traveling on Cascade Springs Road when the crash happened.
“It’s a dirt road and where it hits the pavement, I was just going too fast and when it hit the pavement, it gripped and we rolled,” said Van. “Hindsight, I would have done things a lot differently, obviously.”
Both 5-year-old Rylinn and 4-year-old Kaizley were thrown out. Kaizley was pinned underneath the vehicle.
“Van lifted the Razor off of her and I drug her out,” said Kim Oakes, the girls’ mom. “Not a sight that any mother would want to see, let alone anyone.”
Both girls were flown to the hospital with critical injuries. Van and Kim said Kaizley’s were worse.
“They had to put over 50 staples in her head and shave her long beautiful hair,” said Kim.
Kim said Kaizley is a fighter, and so is Rylinn. Both parents said it was a miracle their daughters seem to be recovering well, despite the severity of the accident. Grief weighed heavy on Van and Kim Oakes, but they said gratitude was lightening their load.
“We just want to say thank you,” said Van. “I promise you we hear your prayers. I promise you we feel your prayers. We’re so grateful for all the support.”
“The love and support we’ve seen from everyone, it’s what has given us strength,” said Kim. “And the more that people have reached out and the more prayers we’ve felt, it’s like the stronger my kids get.”
The Oakes said the outlook was positive for both girls, but they could have a long road to recovery ahead.
Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the girls’ medical expenses.
