ST. GEORGE —A complete power outage for miles affecting hundreds of homes and businesses in St. George Saturday night ensued after a driver lost control of his vehicle and smashed into electrical junction boxes before rolling the vehicle, sending the boxes crashing through a concrete wall and falling several feet into the parking lot below.
A 20-year-old man was southbound at a high rate of speed on South Mall Drive just before 11:30 p.m. and lost control of his vehicle, St. George Police Sgt. Jeff Bahlmann said. The vehicle then left the roadway, hit a block wall then a tree and finally two electrical junction boxes.
The reason the 20-year-old man was speeding was because he was racing another vehicle on southbound Mall Drive, according to a statement on the St. George Police’s Facebook page issued Monday
The vehicle then rolled at least once, possibly more, Bahlmann said, until it finally came to rest on the sidewalk facing west near 170 South Mall Drive.
“We are trying to determine why he was traveling at such an excessive speed right now,” Bahlmann said.
The man was conscious when police arrived and was transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George for examination as a precaution, he said.
The driver was was confirmed to be wearing a seat belt and sustained only minor injuries, according to police Monday. He was also issued a citation for reckless driving.
One witness, Patrick Amico, said the explosion lit up his bedroom that directly faces South Mall Drive and was so loud he thought he was hearing gunshots until, looking out his window, he was able to see the cement wall shattered all over the street.
The crash and rollover left debris over a long stretch of sidewalk and roadway; left two damaged electrical junction boxes lying several feet down an embankment smashed beyond repair; destroyed a block wall. The crash also caused a power outage leaving homes, businesses, and traffic lights without power along Red Cliffs Drive, between St. George Boulevard and Mall Drive, as well as south along Mall Drive for over 2 miles.
As this report publishes, power has been fully restored, according to the City of St. George Energy Services Department at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
Damage to city infrastructure is estimated to be over $40,000.
The St. George Police Department, St. George Fire Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
St. George News Senior Reporter Mori Kessler contributed to this story.
Ed. note: The article was updated with additional information provided by police.
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Interior of white car that crashed into electrical junction boxes and rolled on South Mall Dr. in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News White car that crashed into electrical junction boxes and rolled on South Mall Dr. in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News Officer checking on driver after rollover on South Mall Drive, St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News White car that crashed into electrical junction boxes and rolled on South Mall Dr. in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News Interior of electrical junction box after explosion when a car crashed into the boxes and rolled on South Mall Drive, St. George, Utah | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Electrical junction box damaged in the single-car collision on South Mall Drive in St. George, Utah, Jan 23, 2016| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News White car that crashed into electrical junction boxes and rolled on South Mall Dr. in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News White car involved in single-car rollover on South Mall Dr. in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News Debris from single-car rollover on South Mall Drive, St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News Accident scene on South Mall Drive in St. George, Utah, Jan. 23, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Electrical junction box damaged in the single-car collision on South Mall Drive in St. George, Utah, Jan 23, 2016| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Electrical junction box damaged in the single-car collision on South Mall Drive in St. George, Utah, Jan 23, 2016| Photo courtesy of Patrick Amico, St. George News
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Well if the driver is in good standing with the LDS church and their temple recommend is up to date . I’m sure it will just be an unexpected medical episode
oops
it looks familiar this suv
The idiot was racing a station wagon, I mean crossover? Duh.
is it still okay to say crossover ? I figured by now the political correctness movement would of classified that as a racist remark