SUV driver says outhouse-carrying truck cut her off, leading to chain-reaction crash in Cedar City

Scene of a chain-reaction collision involving a gold Chevrolet Suburban and three parked vehicles on Cedar City's Main Street, Cedar City, Utah, July 26, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — A driver who told police she was cut off by another vehicle swerved into a parked SUV on Cedar City’s Main Street on Tuesday, leading to a chain-reaction collision. 

Scene of a chain-reaction collision involving a gold Chevrolet Suburban and three parked vehicles on Cedar City’s Main Street, Cedar City, Utah, July 26, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ladd Brindley, St. George News / Cedar City News

The incident occurred around noon on southbound Main Street, just south of Best Western Town and Country Inn parking lot at 189 N. Main. It involved a gold Chevrolet Suburban heading south, plus three other vehicles parked along the west side of the street.

Cedar City Police Sgt. Dustin Orton said the driver of the gold Suburban told police a truck that had a portable outhouse loaded onto it had attempted to move into the right or outside lane, and its driver apparently didn’t see her already traveling in that lane.

“She was trying to avoid that collision, moved too far right and collided with a vehicle that was parked on the side of the street,” Orton told Cedar City News at the scene.

The gold Suburban collided with the rear of a white Toyota Sequoia SUV, sending it into the back of a blue Suburban, which in turn was pushed forward and dented the back fender of a red Ford C-Max compact car. All three of the parked vehicles were unoccupied at the time of the crash, Orton said.

“We’re still trying to locate the owner of the second parked vehicle,” he said.

As for the truck that reportedly caused the crash, Orton said its driver didn’t stay at the scene.

Scene of a chain-reaction collision involving a gold Chevrolet Suburban and three parked vehicles on Cedar City’s Main Street, Cedar City, Utah, July 26, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“They never stopped,” he said. “We don’t know if they were ever aware of what took place. They were in front of the gold vehicle and may have merged without seeing it, never being aware of the accident.”

“We don’t have enough information to even track them down,” Orton added.

No injuries were reported. 

At the scene, the gold Suburban driver and her adult male passenger were seen transferring luggage and other belongings to another vehicle. Meanwhile, Cedar City Fire Department personnel arrived to help clean up debris and engine fluids.

Traffic on southbound Main Street was impacted with a right lane closure for approximately one hour while the scene was cleared. The first two vehicles sustained major damage and needed to be towed away, while the other two had only minor damage and were still drivable.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash and saw the porta-potty carrying truck in question is asked to contact Cedar City Police at 435-586-2956.

This report is based on statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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