Man taken to hospital after crashing through hangar at St. George Airport

A Jeep is towed after it crashes through a hangar at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, Oct. 26, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A man was taken to the hospital Sunday morning after he drove his Jeep through the door of a hangar at St. George Municipal Airport.

At 7:15 a.m., all was normal as routine airport inspections were being conducted, Airport Operations Supervisor Brad Kitchen said. During the second inspection, however, the front end of a gray Jeep Patriot was found protruding through the right rear side of the hanger. The Jeep had apparently crashed through the metal door of the hangar, kept going and then impaled a wall of the hangar. Airport Operations Specialist Tim McIntyre was the first to arrive on the scene and found the driver, a man in his 70s, sitting in his seat with an injury to his mouth.

The gaping hole left after the Jeep collided through the door and then impaled into the side of the hangar at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, Oct. 26, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
The Jeep left a gaping hole after it crashed through the door and then impaled the side of the hangar at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, Oct. 26, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

“The man was still breathing but not coherent,” Kitchen said. “It appeared he may have suffered from a stroke.”

The man driving the Jeep owns an airplane that he stores at the airport, Kitchen said. The man’s plane was a few hundred yards away from where the accident occurred. The man said he was headed to the restroom, Kitchen said, and it was unclear if he had been planning on flying or not.

The St. George Fire Department, St. George Police and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the west gate of the airport, located at 4550 S. Airport Parkway in St. George.

Gold Cross Ambulance transported the man to Dixie Regional Medical Center.

“There normally is an airplane in there,” Kitchen said. “He is really lucky that there was no aircraft in there. It could have been a lot worse. This has never happened before. We expect aircraft accidents, not vehicle accidents.”

Hangar after the damaged door was dragged away after the Jeep collided through it at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, Oct. 26, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
The damaged hangar door was dragged away by responders after the Jeep crashed through it at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, Oct. 26, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

The hangar the man crashed into was brought to the new airport from the old airport and is worth about $15,000, Kitchen said. The estimated damage to the hanger is $8,000. Kitchen said because the hangars are so old, most of the repair parts are no longer available. The whole hangar is likely to be totaled, he said, and will be replaced rather than repaired.

The Jeep was towed.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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7 Comments

  • Zonkerb October 26, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    Oh thats just great and this idiot owns an airplane

    • Herd October 27, 2014 at 3:16 am

      That’s a scary thought. Some … stroking out in an airplane and no telling where he’ll crash it.
      Ed. ellipsis.

  • Bender October 26, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    Adios to your Third Class Medical Certificate old timer. Get well and soon and back in the saddle.

  • PROTECT THE SHEEP October 26, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    The old timer will be right back on the road by tomorrow afternoon. Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief…

    • Bender October 27, 2014 at 12:32 pm

      Harsh Sheep dude. No sympathy for you next time you OD on bong water.

  • Hiflyer October 27, 2014 at 4:59 pm

    Most of these comments above are uncalled for. Joyce, you should really screen some of these horrible comments. I know this individual and the cause of this accident was a medical issue that could happen to any of us. Please try to have a little respect for people.

  • Countrygirl October 28, 2014 at 11:09 am

    I agree with HIFLYER. These comments are very uncalled for. Anyone at any age could have a medical problem that can cause an accident to themselves or others. I have family members who died much much to early for heart attacks and strokes.
    Grow up and be respectful of others. Next time it might be you having a medical emergency.

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