Teen dies after friends fail to get help

GREELEY, Colo. – A 16-year-old boy died of injuries from a sport utility vehicle rollover after his companions failed to call for emergency help, instead phoning a friend to come get them, authorities said.

Aaron Bonilla was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle nearly an hour after the wreck Thursday, authorities said. He died after being rushed into surgery for a lacerated liver.

The 17-year-old driver of the SUV, whose name was not released, was arrested on suspicion of careless driving causing death, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license, said Sgt. Dennis Schenkenberger, of the Colorado State Patrol.

Seven teens were in the SUV when it crashed. After the friend came to get them, five of them were dropped off at home before Bonilla and another injured teen were taken to the hospital, police said. The second teen was treated and released.

One of the teens who was taken home was later hospitalized because of suspected internal injuries, Schenkenberger said. Her condition was unavailable.

The hospital notified police, as did a woman who saw the abandoned SUV.

“There was blood everywhere,” said Tracy Davis, the woman who spotted the SUV. “A car seat was wedged between the driver and passenger seat and personal items were strewn all over the road. I knew someone had to be pretty badly hurt.”

Four teens were wearing seat belts but Bonilla and the other two injured passengers were not, and they were ejected, Schenkenberger said.

“If they had been wearing seat belts, this could have been prevented,” Schenkenberger said. “It’s a horrific, horrific accident.”