WASHINGTON CITY – Shortly after 2 p.m. today, Washington City Police and medical units responded to an all-terrain vehicle accident in an area near Exit 13 of Interstate-15 in Washington City.
The side-by-side ATV had gone over a ravine and emergency responders were called in. The 41-year-old male driver suffered minor injuries and was Life Flighted to Intermountain Healthcare Southwest Region at Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he was subsequently arrested on Class B misdemeanor drunk driving charges.
The area where the accident occurred is a popular spot for both off-road, street-legal vehicles, as well as ATVs and there were other such in the area at the time of the accident. The region includes areas with steep drop-offs, and soft ground that can shift under weight; and drivers who are unfamiliar with the area can fall victim to these dangers. Furthermore, driving under the influence of alcohol can greatly exacerbate these dangers and accidents follow.
Many people are under the misconception that if they are driving on something other than pavement then they are exempt from drunk driving laws, but this is not the case.
“Even off-road, if there is evidence of drunk driving, a person can be arrested for impaired driving,” Ed Kantor, public information officer for the Washington City Police Department, said. “And basically that is what took place.”
The Washington City Police Department has vehicles in their fleet with four-wheel drive which are able to respond to these types of accidents, as in this case; but remote locations do inherently carry increased risks to those enjoying recreation activities in this region, particularly when they run into trouble. People are urged to enjoy recreation activities responsibly, sober and attentive to surroundings, be prepared, keep company with others.
Note: Persons arrested and charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2012, all rights reserved.
Watch out- if you have some beer and drive your four wheeler or RAZR and you crash it and get a broken collar bone out in the desert, they will send the helicopter out to you and your finances will be ruined for the rest of your life.
Watch out… If you use drugs like alcohol and go out driving ANY vehicle, you and other people could die.
Although I don’t agree with drinking and driving anything..I do agree they send out the helicopter for minor injuries,they have to pay for it somehow!
Please note that the name of the city is Washington, not Washington City. That is what the U.S. Postal Service calls it, and that is what residents have called it for 150+ years. There were some city officers who found a historical document that mentioned “Washington City” and decided recently to start calling the city that, trying to make it seem more substantial than it is, which is nonsense. There are also documents referring to St. George City, Hurricane City, and probably Virgin Town, but we do not refer to those cities and towns that way. The only city with City in its name in this area is Cedar City.
Hm. That is very interesting input, Steve 🙂
I’ll have to chew on this. St. George News uses Washington City in its datelines to eliminate any confusion with Washington D.C., which is acceptably noted in news datelines as “Washington,” as is the state of Washington. (We actually have a broad readership.) Nonetheless, your comment intrigues me – I will chew on it. Thank you so much – seriously,
St. George News | STGnews.com
Joyce Kuzmanic
Editor-in-Chief
Distinguishing our local Washington from Washington, D.C. is not a reason to use the wrong name for a place. And your publication has been using it for more than just datelines. Thanks for chewing on it.
Uh, most area publications refer it to Washington City, nowdays, where have u been? While locals will always call it Washington, it’s like a local says Cedar. You must be one of those idiots over-thinking the name Dixie around here or put out when u see “Saint George” instead of St. George…Ok, Iv’e clearly wasted more time on this comment than I wanted to,…there’s bigger fish to fry, dude
I think it makes good sense to use Washington City. It not only distinguishes it from DC but also Washington state, and also Washington County. After all, some old-timers I know that were born in Washington City call it “Warshington” and I don’t really hear that said much anymore. 🙂
Followers of cult leader, Warren Jeffs, who is behind bars for sexually assaulting young girls, are reportedly preparing for the end of the world today, after their former leader warned of Armageddon before midnight.
The only supermarket and major meeting point of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints community across the movement’s key sites – Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah – has been closed, and an expert in the sect has warned CNN the preparations could be a dangerous signal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255093/Warren-Jeffs-followers-prepare-end-world-close-2012-experts-warn-proclamation-mean-sinister-sect-loyal-convicted-sex-offender.html
Do you find it hard to stay focused on the article at hand? The end was supposed to be on the 23rd the birthday of Joseph Smith.
You can and will be arrested for drunk driving on a bike!!
Peter, I can almost guarantee if your big “prophet” Monson up in SLC were to say it was the end of the world today, all you sheep would believe it. That’s straight up scary. Straight up cult-like too.