Driver arrested on suspicion of DUI after crashing into trailers at Hurricane RV dealership

Written by Jeff Richards
January 26, 2019
A wrecked minivan sits next to a damaged recreational trailer at Nielson RV dealership, Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 26, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Katie Leavitt, Nielson RV, St. George News

HURRICANE — A suspected drunken driver crashed his minivan at a recreational vehicle dealership in Hurricane early Saturday morning, totaling three large fifth-wheel camping trailers, police said.

Damaged trailers at Nielson RV dealership, scene of an early morning minivan crash, Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 26, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

The incident, which was reported to dispatchers shortly after 4:20 a.m., occurred at Nielson RV, 1210 W. State Street, Hurricane Police officer Ken Thompson told St. George News.

According to investigators, a white Plymouth Voyager minivan had been heading east before suddenly crossing the westbound lanes and jumping the curb. The minivan continued through bushes, rocks and other landscaping before crashing into the side of one of the large trailers parked adjacent to the sidewalk at the eastern end of the property.

After being questioned by police at the scene, the male driver of the minivan was transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries believed to be minor, Thompson said, adding that the driver was the only occupant of the vehicle.

Although the man reportedly told police he had merely fallen asleep at the wheel, he was arrested and taken to jail shortly after being released from the hospital, Thompson said.

The driver, identified by Washington County Jail records as Ryan M. Amescua, 30, was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility at 7:30 a.m. on suspicion of DUI with personal injury and driving left of center.

Ryan Amescua booking photo, posted Jan. 26, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Katie Leavitt, the dealership’s general manager, said she was called to the scene by police shortly after 4:30 a.m., at which point she began to assess the damage and take photographs.

The crash totaled three trailers with a combined value of $231,000, Leavitt said. The trailer that took the brunt of the initial impact was knocked into three other trailers, two of which sustained bent frames and other damage.

Although the first three trailers were all totaled, Leavitt said the fourth trailer was only slightly damaged and appears to be repairable.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2019, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have two young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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