A 17-year-old from California was ejected from an OHV without a helmet or seatbelt.
A 17-year-old girl from California was killed Friday afternoon in an off-highway vehicle crash in Garden City, Utah, after being ejected from the vehicle when it rolled over during an unsanctioned maneuver in a public park parking lot.
The incident was reported around 4:15 p.m. at Heritage Park in Garden City, in Rich County, according to the Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. Four teenagers from California were performing donuts in the parking lot when the off-highway vehicle overturned.
The girl, who was seated in the back of the vehicle, was thrown from it upon impact. She was not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt. Emergency responders from the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, Rich County EMS, Garden City Fire District and Intermountain Health Lifeflight all arrived at the scene and administered life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead. She has not been publicly identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What led to the crash
Performing donuts involves spinning a vehicle sharply in tight, continuous circles, generating significant centrifugal force. Off-highway vehicles sit higher than standard passenger cars and carry a different weight distribution, making them particularly prone to tipping or rolling during sudden turns. OHVs are engineered for unpaved, off-road terrain, not flat parking lots, where the interaction between tires and surface can behave in ways riders may not anticipate.
Capt. Chase Pili of the Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division confirmed the details of the incident and said the case remains under active investigation. The department extended its condolences to the family and friends of the girl.
BREAKING: A 17-year-old girl died in an off-road vehicle crash in Garden City on Friday, an official with the Utah Department of Natural Resources said.
He said four teenagers from California were doing donuts in a parking lot when the vehicle rolled, ejecting the girl. pic.twitter.com/PQhze4cWAG
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 20, 2026
What OHV riders need to know
The crash renewed focus on safety practices surrounding off-highway vehicles, which are among the most popular forms of outdoor recreation across Utah. Officials are reminding riders that wearing a Department of Transportation approved helmet is essential, as is having a clear understanding of the capabilities and limits of any OHV before operating it. Researching designated trail systems and recreational areas before riding is also strongly recommended, as navigating unfamiliar terrain or environments increases the risk of accidents.
Ejection from an OHV remains one of the leading causes of severe injury and death in recreational vehicle incidents, and the absence of protective gear significantly worsens outcomes when a crash occurs. Garden City sits adjacent to Bear Lake, a popular summer destination that draws visitors from across Utah, Idaho and California each year.