7-year-old girl killed in southern Utah ATV crash; driver arrested

DUCK CREEK VILLAGE, Kane County — A man was arrested in southern Utah over the weekend after he allegedly crashed his all-terrain vehicle while driving impaired and killed a young girl riding with him.

Armando Garcia Becerra, 32, was booked into the Kane County Jail for investigation of automobile homicide, three counts of DUI with a passenger under the age of 16, reckless driving and negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury.

About 9 p.m. Saturday, the parents of a 7-year-old girl took their unconscious daughter to the Mammoth Creek Fire Station.

“They stated that their 7-year-old daughter was riding as a passenger in a UTV when the driver, Becerra, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over. The parents stated that the juvenile was never conscious during transport and had severe head trauma,” according to a police booking affidavit.

The young girl was pronounced dead at the fire station.

Kane County sheriff’s deputies drove to the crash site where they found Becerra. He explained how he was driving the vehicle and three girls were passengers, the affidavit states.

Deputies noted the odor of alcohol on Becerra’s breath while talking to him and he admitted to drinking several beers prior to crashing, he affidavit alleges.

Becerra “also admitted to me that he believed that he was still under the influence of alcohol at the time of the interview, which was nearly two hours after the incident had occurred,” the arresting deputy wrote.

Toxicology test results were still pending at the time the affidavit was written. Becerra was arrested following a series of DUI tests.