ST. GEORGE – A Santa Clara man was arrested for driving under the influence and interfering with arrest Saturday night after he left the roadway and crashed through a street sign before smashing his vehicle through a block retaining wall and coming to a rest.
At approximately 10:35 p.m., Brian Celton Gates and a woman passenger were traveling westbound on Stonebridge Drive near the Clinton Way intersection, St. George Police Sgt. Spencer Holmes said.
“There was some sort of distraction inside the vehicle,” Holmes said. “At some point, the driver left the lane of travel and collided with that cement wall.”
Holmes said Gates estimated that he was going 55 mph in a 25 mph zone.
The vehicle crashed through the northwest corner of the wall, airbags were deployed and the vehicle was totaled. However, no injuries were reported, Holmes said.
“It looks like he was pretty lucky to be alive,” he said.
Gates was investigated for DUI and subsequently failed field sobriety tests, Holmes said. He then got into an altercation with the officers at the scene and was charged with interfering with arrest in addition to other charges.
Gates was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and charged with two class B misdemeanors for driving under the influence and interfering with arrest; and two class C misdemeanors for improper lane travel and speeding. His bail is set at $2,590.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
St. George News Reporter Aspen Stoddard contributed to this report.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
The aftermath after a car crashes into a block wall, St. George, Utah, Nov. 29, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, St. George News and KCSG Television
The aftermath after a car crashes into a block wall, St. George, Utah, Nov. 29, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, St. George News and KCSG Television
The aftermath after a car crashes into a block wall, St. George, Utah, Nov. 29, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, St. George News and KCSG Television
The aftermath after a car crashes into a block wall, St. George, Utah, Nov. 29, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, St. George News and KCSG Television
The aftermath after a car crashes into a block wall, St. George, Utah, Nov. 29, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, St. George News and KCSG Television
Brian Celton Gates' booking photo posted Nov. 29, 2014 | Image courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
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Love the booking photo…he looks pretty darned happy with himself! Maybe not so much after he sobers up.
The booking process, including the body cavity search, should wipe that smile right off his face.
You are sooo stupid. He hardly looks pleased with himself. In case you are to ignorant to notice, it is a mug shot.
Looks like a smirk in his booking photo, probably still under the influence and the light was bright
“. . . the arrest charge was because they wouldn’t let him speak to his wife. . . ” No, the arrest charge was because of the way he handled the situation subsequent to crashing his car after drinking alcohol. We all make mistakes – trust me, he was very lucky this time considering what could have happened. His kids would have been sad about alot more than a few judgemental comments online.
Maybe he’s thinking “Fundraiser! Jackpot!”
LOL I was about to say the same thing…
Happy Hour!
check out my car dude, got a cold air intake–makes it go so fast and look so cool…LOL
…
on another note, if the dude would have been black the bail would have been at least 10,000
Feel so bad for his sweet children.
You are right. He has a sixteen year old daughter and a fifteen year old son. If you think they are not hurting from all of the ignorant remarks, when people don’t know what they are talking about, think again. My granddaughter called me last night at 12:30 because she was so upset about the things being said about her father, when they don’t know the situation, how much he blew, and the fact that the arrest charge was because they wouldn’t let him speak to his wife and see if she was okay. Obviously no one should drink and drive, ever. But it is also obvious that the people on here have never had to deal with the Saint George police dept.. They are terrible.
Mr. Gates is the person who has hurt his children, not the public who have every right to criticize him.
Wow…. Enable much?
Protectthesheep…. How did race get interjected into this article…. At all? Get a grip.
55 in a 25 seems pretty normal around here!
Mr. Gates may look smug and arrogant in this booking photo. But wait until he starts having to pay the increases in his automobile insurance. That should sort of “moderate” his facial expression. And should he be convicted and sentenced to jail, I wonder if he will still have that smug look on his face.
Well he knows how to get out of a roundabout
I know Brian very well. I am glad he was not killed! We just replaced his windshield the other day. Now I feel bad I did not meet him at Bout Time just before this…That should bring up another point.
What other point ?? How to keep drunks from driving twice the speed limit through residential neighborhoods ? Good luck. Society has had ZERO progress in that department so far.
Maybe the bar should have cut him off after his 4th 24oz Hefe. Yes it was his choice to drink and drive. I’m not debating that. Bars out here let you drink as much as you want then allow you to leave. Mainly because of all the rules already set in place. I don’t ever drink 3-5 tall ones in a bar. I would not be able to drive home. If Brian or the girl had been killed or if they had killed someone else…it would have been the bars fault.
You stupid person. You have not idea how much he had to drink. Who are you to say how much he had.
or Obama’s fault?…
We must not allow this kind of behavior to go on. We never did in the past. I’m glad Brian didn’t kill innocent children, but next time he might, if he doesn’t change his ways. We can’t let irresponsible people like this out of jail until they show genuine change. Bail money is just money.
And if you had met him at Bout Time just before this…what? He could have given you a ride home?
Protect the sheep. You really are an idiot. How is your moms basement working out for you?
After driving so recklessly he could have killed children in a residential neighborhood and then belligerently fighting with a police officer, he only had to come up with $250 to get bail?? That is ridiculously low. Shame on you, Mr. Gates. You had better change your ways and publicly apologize.
AT eleven oclock at night. He could have killed kids. I don’t think so.
Yes, at 11 pm he could have hit & possibly killed someone, even a kid! A holiday weekend, teenagers hang out with their friends, their cousins that are visiting from out of town. They hang out when ever &, where ever they want! It was irresponsible of him. Any one who drives under the influence is being irresponsible & reckless. Thankfully no one was physically hurt.
This is the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever heard! Someone needs to slap some sense into this trailer park trash!
wow some of you are too thick to pick up a joke… So is this guy a worthy member or not? bail seems low for such an amount of destruction. How about a reckless driving charge and destruction of private property charge?
To prove reckless driving, you have to prove he wanted to kill someone. Obviously you don’t know the law. As a retired person that had to know federal and state law, and was certified in field sobriety and intoxilyzer I do. Why don’t you talk when you know what you are talking about.
Prove he wanted to kill someone? Pretty sure that’s the bourdon of proof for murder, not reckless driving. Reckless is a willful or wanton disregard for life and or property. I would venture that driving drunk and 2x the speed limit in a residential zone easily fits reckless. If you are going to claim you “know the laws”… You may want to actually know them. Being a trucker meter maid hardly counts as being in law enforcement.
Reckless driving equals intent to kill? What the heck are you talking about? Please stop. You are obviously too upset. Go take care of your family and stop trying to defend this. They need you away from your computer and it does no good for you to get angry at strangers.
And the one big question… is he worthy of a Fundraiser… for his kids, of course.
The arrest report gives a different address for him. Santa Clara? St. George?
What do you care. It’s none of your business where he lives. Get a life.
Only interested in the accuracy of reporting.
You need a #fundraiser
The address is public information, because the public has the right to know which of their neighbors has reckless disregard for their safety. In this case, that would be Brian and Sharon Gates.
Wow, those cheap little hatchbacks don’t hold up very well in accidents. That thing is demolished. Is it one of those old Ford Festivas? Anyway, hopefully next time around he’ll get something a little safer and sturdier. Glad he didn’t hurt any innocent bystanders!
He was driving a Volkswagen. Had he been driving Ford, I can guarantee he would have been killed.
FINALLY YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT I AGREE WITH…other than that your full of excuses. Who cares how much he had to drink. I am black my bail was 3,000 so that comment holds zero water. I am defending Brian, in some right, other than that I have zero sympathy, other than he is my friend I never want to see a homeboy hit rock bottom. You know as well as I this was just the straw that broke the camels back. Now be quite!!!!
Josh Dalton…. Get back to work and put your GD phone away. Or you won’t be installing windows for long. Get a job at at georgenews if you wasn’t to see yourself in print ” homeboy”.
Want. Not wasn’t . Your boss should confiscate your phone. Confiscate means take it away.
Since driver and passenger were uninjured, it sounds like the front end of that car did just what it was supposed to – absorb the force of impact without transferring it to the occupants. The airbags did the rest.
Golf R cheap? Not in the least. Looks like somebody drives a Prius! Do your research baby…this is not a Kia Optima so everybody in town does not have one. Its very hard to find something negative about the Golf line. Just pick up a book. Other than you don’t want to drive them at high speeds while impaired. It is fun, but not recommended my the National Safety Standards of America…..GO FALCONS!
Anyone who lives off Dixie dr or travels on this road daily, know people drive well ver 25-40 mph…drinking and driving don,t mix like oil and water…
What if it’s the koolaid you drunk up at church?
Just where have the police been hanging out! Use to be you would see one handing out a citation every other mile. Now you don’t see them anywhere!
Yeah really, can’t they bust so of these goons going 60 down sunset or bluff…???
*some
I’m just concerned about what this is going to cost the tax payer’s to replace the street sign
I don’t know if that was sarcasm or not, but his insurance liability pays for that. As well as the light post and the block wall.
Well Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Legend has it that there is/was a smaller than avg stop sign around the corner that was never reported.
Good thing he had his magic undies on.
I was thinking(when I do this the world stops spinning)…You wan’t to keep it real then we will. The Whiskey Tango lames in this town are so quick to judge. Now I am not perfect, I am just as critical to a point. Most of you lame-n-nites think you know our society so well. You don’t know $hyte! You think you know, our you wish you knew me. The difference here is Brian does not have any idea who any of you are. He can just come over to my house and ruin my life face to face if I said something to disrespect him. I have said nothing that I would not tell any other grown a$$ man that is accountable for his own actions. I have also traveled quickly down both roads mentioned above. I saw all of you flying down Tanaquin in your Honda Odyssey at 65 mph, oh but you are on your way to relief society or pick little Bobby up from soccer practice and it makes it ok… He was not on either. He was in the neighborhood and that is what is not cool. I could have been leaning against that wall smoking a cigarette. While I have the floor. Trolls, start using your real name. Stand behind what your going to say or don’t say it at all. When you see me in the hood I will sign your flat brim hat for you. I am glad I drive a GOLF GTI…GO FALCONS!
ladybugavenger is my real superhero name
I need no other identity , for I represent the fluid that flows through the inner being of everyone here. I am….. Koolaid! (sound of background applause )
Some if us don’t use our real names because our bosses would fire us. So spin on that. Some of us can’t afford to lose our jobs over bitterness spewed online. You take things to such extremes. So what if a Mormon soccer mom gets pulled over for speeding? So what if she’s Jewish in a predominantly Jewish area? We all know our own small circle of our own little life. And that’s okay. Everyone’s just trying to make it through the day, week, month. This dudes got more problems and we don’t matter nor do our opinions when you look at his situation. Let’s hope this was a reality check and things get better.
I am jewish and I speed, now what….
Now what? Now who cares? My grandma made you some Mahtza Balls. So am I .
Maybe he’s a Republican and just hates the Clinton name
I would never own a volkswagon unless I got in for near nothing, even then I’d be ashamed. Worst piece of crap car you can buy. Hitler would be rolling around in his grave knowing that “german engineering” is producing such crap 😉
If it was my son, I definitely would not be on here making a fool of myself, making stupid excuses, it does not matter what he is going through, and how is the PD at fault, shut up and get real, so if he is married who was the girl in the car? and what was the distraction?
Maybe Josh Duh Dalton can get a job writing articles in the kiddie section of the newspaper
I’m glad I am not whiskey tango like yourself. Zonkerb, your mother was on crack when she gave you that name. We all know Josh ca’t spell. He has very valid points though. You don’t have the class to operate on the same level…you know being from the trailer park. Why don’t you give back to our community by not posting anymore of your lackadaisical comments. They bore me and everyone else.
Was this guy returning home from a drunken evening at the Temple Lighting ceremony?
He’s not even Mormon Mr Know it all
Maybe you all should do better at you place of business. Then you would not have to hide behind a fake name when you want to say something. oh i’m at home using my computer so my boss can’t really say anything. Not using my phone. When I am at work posting, I am using down time not company time. Maybe if most of you made more than 4.25 an hour you would know what it is like to work in a career with down time. GO FALCONS!
Impossible. That’s more than $3 less than the federal minimum wage. GO FALCONS!
Nice try Josh Dalton. Some if us have professional licenses we risk losing if we offend people and identifying where we work. Not everyone gets to install windshields for $15 per hour in a garage. Sarcasm intended. And I make base plus commission so my pay fluctuates nimrod. And you just be half Jewish like me if at all. You missed the point of the comment numb nuts. Nobody cares about the chip on your shoulder. Buck up Buddy. And this is coming from a broad with more balls than you.
I don’t think Josh Dalton and Josh Dalton (Incognegro) are the same person. There is some nearly illiterate nerd on here who likes to spoof other’s names and leave inane comments. Can you confirm this, Incognegro?