ST. GEORGE — The driver of a gold-colored Mercedes SUV rolled his vehicle while traveling on Pioneer Road Friday afternoon. The SUV subsequently caught on fire.
St. George Police Officer Tyrell Bangerter characterized the accident as “a possible suicide attempt.”
The driver of the SUV, an adult male, was traveling south on Pioneer Road at a high rate of speed when a tire blew out on the vehicle, Bangerter said.
Instead of slowing, the driver accelerated, swerved into oncoming traffic and then left the roadway on the left side. The driver drove down a dirt embankment, rotated and rolled the vehicle one time, coming to rest upright. The vehicle quickly caught on fire.
Passers-by stopped and helped the driver exit the vehicle before the SUV was fully engulfed.
No other vehicles were involved and the driver was the sole occupant of the SUV.
“He was transported to the hospital for some evaluations, mental and physical,” Bangerter said.
The driver was reported to have had a minor laceration on his head, but was conscious and alert when emergency responders arrived.
Due to the nature of the incident, it is unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat belt or whether airbags were deployed.
The vehicle was a total loss.
St. George Fire Department also responded to the accident.
The incident is still under investigation.
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A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News A Mercedes SUV caught on fire after the male driver lost control of the vehicle. Police are characterizing the incident as a possible suicide attempt, St. George, Utah, June 3, 2016 | Photo by Don Gilman, St. George News
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if it was a suicide attempt it seems he wasn’t concerned about taking other lives with him.
A suicide attempt? So the tire blowing out was just good luck?
it seems the vehicle was suffering from depression
Unfortunately , people with unresolved health or social issues find it harder to cope in the heat .
Problems with all kinds of violence escalate during summer heat peaks .
Maiming or burning ones self in a vehicle accident will only make All the problems Worse .
People with issues should try to remain in air conditioned areas during the hottest hours of the day .
!
According to the two guys who pulled him out of the car, he was indeed wearing his seatbelt, because they unbuckled it to get him out as the car was filling with smoke.