Two Utah children dead after car crashes through fence in Eagle Mountain

UPDATE: The children killed have been identified as Hunter Jackson and Odin Ratliff, both 3, who were best friends. A gofundme for the two can be found below.

The original story is below.

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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — Two 3-year-old boys were killed after a fast-moving car crashed into a horse stable they were playing in.

Officials with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened at the Cedar Valley Stables, near 2300 North and 16000 West in Eagle Mountain, around 7:20 p.m. Monday.

Deputies said witnesses reported that the car was driving recklessly, weaving or drifting into oncoming traffic, traveling near or faster than 100 mph and it ran a stop sign before losing control and crashing.

Passengers in the car told deputies they hit a bump and lost control.

The car went off the private road and shattered a vinyl rail fence, smashed through a five-rail steel pole fence and crashed through another fence panel in the corral before hitting a large cement block anchored in the ground, deputies said.

A driver traveling at high speed lost control, went through a fence, and into a corral where 2 young children were playing. Both children were killed. 3 occupants in the car suffered critical and serious injuries. This happened near 2300 N 16000 W in @eaglemtncity. pic.twitter.com/PVea1725rd

— Utah County Sheriff (@UCSO) May 3, 2022

The car then launched into the air and crashed into a lean-to-style set of horse stables, coming to a stop upside down.

Inside the stables were the two boys, both age 3, who were playing with construction toys.

The two were killed as a result of the crash. Deputies said the boys were killed instantly and ended up 75 feet from where they were playing.

The car ended up traveling 345 feet from where it left the road.

On Tuesday, deputies identified the driver as 25-year-old Kent Cody Barlow, of Eagle Mountain. He was seriously injured and airlifted to Utah Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released.

During their investigation, deputies and detectives say they found evidence that Barlow was impaired. He tested positive for methamphetamine during a preliminary drug screening, and deputies say the positive test combined with his driving pattern is consistent with impairment.

Three others in the car were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Two of them have since been released.

According to court documents, Barlow admitted to having used methamphetamine as recently as Sunday. During an interview after being read his Miranda rights, Barlow told deputies he didn’t remember the incident but did remember he was out near the fairgrounds, racing and drifting his car with his friends. He was “also forthcoming to (the deputy) about his recent use of methamphetamine.”

Deputies say Barlow was booked into the Utah County Jail on several charges, including:

• Two second-degree felony counts of automobile homicide/DUI with criminal negligence
• Possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony
• DUI with serious bodily injury by negligent operation, a third-degree felony
• Two class A misdemeanor counts of DUI with personal injury
• Reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor
• Fail to operate within a single lane, an infraction
• Fail to obey traffic control device (stop sign), an infraction
• Speeding (100 mph), an infraction

In 2019, Barlow was charged with over a dozen crimes after he allegedly stole and crashed a Draper police vehicle.

Newly Released Body Cam Video Shows Suspect Stealing Draper Police Car

The city released a statement about the boys’ deaths.

Eagle Mountain City is devastated to hear of this horrific accident and our hearts are with the family of the victims. The City is working alongside the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in the matter to the best of our ability. While the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office is ongoing, Eagle Mountain City intends to do everything it can to ensure safety in this section of roadway.

A GoFundMe for the two boys can be found here.

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