Toddler injured in UTV rollover; driver arrested
Dec 27, 2023, 9:00 PM
A man who police say used meth about an hour before taking three children for a ride in a utility terrain vehicle and then crashed, seriously injuring a 2-year-old boy, has been arrested. (B Hathaway, Shutterstock)
(B Hathaway, Shutterstock)
RICHFIELD — A man who allegedly said he took meth before crashing a utility terrain vehicle that he was driving with three children on board — including a 2-year-old boy who was injured — has been arrested in central Utah.
Jeffrey Wade Livernois, 32, was arrested for investigation of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in serious injury, two counts of DUI with a passenger under the age of 16, and two counts of drug possession.
On Christmas Day, Sevier County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a side-by-side that had rolled and a 2-year-old boy pinned under the vehicle, according to a police booking affidavit. Deputies arrived to find that other passersby stopped to help and were able to free the boy, who was bleeding from the head.
“The guy holding him said he was trapped by both legs between the knees and feet and laying on his back when they got him out,” according to the affidavit. “He was transported to the (local) hospital immediately and almost Life Flighted (to Salt Lake City).”
The boy’s father, Livernois, was also found bleeding in addition to having road rash and a possible broken collar bone.
“Jeffrey was asked if he had anything in his system and after a minute he said he had meth and marijuana and he had used about an hour prior to this accident,” the affidavit states.
Two boys, ages 10 and 8, were also in the utility terrain vehicle when it rolled but were wearing seat belts and had minor injuries, according to deputies.
Investigators later questioned Liveronois at the hospital, where he again allegedly admitted to using meth and marijuana about an hour before taking the three children for a ride.
“Jeffrey said that they were driving down the road and his driver door opened causing him to slide off the road. He then tried to get back on and rolled the side-by-side. Jeffrey was driving and did not have a seat belt on. The 2-year-old was in the front bench middle seat with a regular seat belt on,” the affidavit states.
Related: Man arrested for alleged intentional hit-and-run with SUV full of kids
