Victim identified in fatal car vs. pedestrian accident

Scene of a fatal incident in which a vehicle hit a man at 300 N. 35 West, Hurricane, Utah, May 19, 2015 | Photo by Trevor Sanders, St. George News

HURRICANE – Police have identified a man killed in a fatal car-versus-pedestrian accident in Hurricane Tuesday morning.

Bruce A. Smale, 52, of Arkansas, has been identified as the person killed in the incident, according to a Hurricane City Police Department press release.

Smale was reportedly hit and killed by a 1994 black Ford Mustang early Tuesday morning.

Hurricane resident Randahl Keith Hill, 25, was identified as the driver of the vehicle and has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Hill and Smale knew each other, according to another statement released by Hurricane City Police, and had been drinking alcoholic beverages together throughout the night prior to the incident.

Hill told police that Smale was on the hood of his vehicle as he drove away very quickly from the incident location, according to the statement, and that he continued driving after Smale fell off the car. Witnesses also confirmed seeing Smale on the hood of the car.

Detectives are still investigating why Smale was on the hood of the vehicle to begin with, according to the statement.

Hill was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility for automobile homicide, a third-degree felony; leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; and driving under the influence of alcohol, a class B misdemeanor.

Smale’s body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, according to the press release.

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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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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6 Comments

  • Real Life May 20, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    So if they’re ON the car, and not IN the car when you kill someone, it’s a crime in Hurricane, not cause for a fundraiser. Okay, now I get it.

    • RealMcCoy May 20, 2015 at 1:14 pm

      Don’t forget that if the victim is a helpless baby, no crime has been committed; however if the “victim” is a legal adult that was drunk and climbing onto the hoods of moving vehicles (think Darwin Award)- it’s a crime.
      I still feel that this gentleman should be released from criminal charges. After all, accidents happen, and I’m sure this poor guy has suffered enough.
      #fundraiser people!
      LET’S GOFUNDHIM!!

  • fun bag May 20, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    wow you people are just awful

    • RealMcCoy May 20, 2015 at 3:22 pm

      Well funbag, explain the difference? Kill a baby- not a crime; kill a drunk guy doing stupid stuff on your car-crime?

  • 42214 May 20, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    Drunk low life dead. Drunk low life in jail. That’s what I call a win win situation. I think I’ll have a drink to that.

    • Ashley April 1, 2016 at 10:37 am

      Hey do you happen to know either of these men?? No?? Well then I suggest you keep your comments to yourself, thank you!!

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