Head-on wreck kills 1, SR-18 shut down for almost an hour

A head-on collision on SR-18 Thursday morning killed one man. St. George, Utah, October 15, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A hit-and-run driver sideswiped a car and continued onward on state Route 18 at a high rate of speed Thursday morning, crashing head-on into another vehicle, resulting in the hit-and-run driver’s death.

A head-on collision on SR-18 Thursday morning killed one man. St. George, Utah, October 15, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
A head-on collision on SR-18 Thursday morning killed one man. St. George, Utah, Oct. 15, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

A Chevrolet S-10 was southbound at about 8:30 a.m. on state Route 18, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said, when the driver sideswiped a maroon passenger car at approximately mile marker 9.

The driver of the S-10 did not stop, Despain said, but continued south at high speed, crossing into the northbound lanes at about mile marker 6 and striking a northbound full-size Chevrolet pickup.

The full-size pickup was a Washington County work vehicle and was heavily damaged in the accident. Despain said the driver was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George with minor injuries

The driver of the S-10 was pronounced dead on the scene, St. George Police Capt. Mike Giles said.

The driver of the maroon passenger car stopped, Despain said, and waited for authorities to arrive. He identified a picture of the S-10 as the vehicle that hit him.

A head-on collision on SR-18 Thursday morning killed one man. St. George, Utah, October 15, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
A head-on collision on SR-18 Thursday morning killed one man. St. George, Utah, Oct. 15, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

SR-18 was closed in both directions for almost an hour while evidence was gathered and investigations were underway. More information is expected to be released from St. George Police Thursday afternoon.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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12 Comments

  • 42214 October 15, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    I hope the driver of the vehicle hit by the fleeing jerk was not injured. If that is the case, this story had a very happy ending.

    • Terry October 15, 2015 at 5:06 pm

      Hey number, really? You need help, retread your comment. The deceased has a Family somewhere, you poor soul.

      • 42214 October 16, 2015 at 2:47 pm

        More often than not the poor guy that gets hit by the criminal fleeing is the one that’s killed. I have no problem with a guy that flees the scene of a hit and run, crosses over the center divider to drive on the wrong side of the street, hits an innocent person head on and kills himself. I guess it’s called “free will” with consequences.

      • 42214 October 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm

        No Terry, the guy that got hit head on is the poor soul. You can’t resist being selfrightgeously judgemental.

      • 42214 October 16, 2015 at 9:10 pm

        If the deceased had a family hopefully the victim of his criminal conduct can sue them for everything they have. You see this as some sad tragic accident. It was a deliberate felonious act in which the deceased showed no concern for the safety of others. If he survived and killed a car load of kids how would this story be playing out right now. I could care less if you think I’m heartless. I just feel safer knowing the deceased won’t be around to cause another “accident” some day.

        • fun bag October 17, 2015 at 9:28 pm

          but it does suck for the fam… 🙁

    • In The Game October 15, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      No matter what the circumstances were surrounding this accident, how could a tragedy such as this ever have a happy ending for anyone?

  • debbie October 15, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    nope do not feel anyone dying in this was a very happy ending, someone lost a son.. we don’t have all the details, i suppose he def. had problems but again we don’t have the details..

  • 42214 October 16, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    This guy was 100% responsible for his own fate by the choices he made. I’m just glad no innocent people were killed. I drive that road 3 times a week at that time of day and it could have easily been me or a loved one run down by the fleeing driver. No different than the guy that steals an old lady’s purse and runs into the street to get away and is run over by a bus. The robber that gets shot by the clerk instead of the innocent clerk being killed. The guy that plays Russian roulette and loses. I don’t waste pity on recipients of instant karma. It’s one of God’s mysterious ways that I agree with.

  • 42214 October 16, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    Interesting to note not one word from Terry, in the game, or Debbie, about the victim of this crime that was injured and hospitalized.

    • Terry October 17, 2015 at 6:37 am

      Give it a rest Numbers, He was just a kid , and From Modena, you think I’m gonna live on this news site just to read your crap? And then respond to your crap, You said it , Heartless, indeed you are, get a life, go outside, jeeezzz ????

      • 42214 October 17, 2015 at 9:42 am

        Well Pat, 31 isn’t my idea of a “kid”. “you think I’m going to live on this news site just to respond to your crap” Apparently the answer is yes.

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