Porsche fire causes cascade of traffic congestion around Foremaster Ridge

A 1957 Porsche Speedster replica caught fire on Riverside Drive on the west side of Foremaster Ridge, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

ST. GEORGE Heavy traffic congestion occurred of the roads over and around Foremaster Ridge Wednesday afternoon as a vehicle fire shut down the segment of Riverside Drive that curves around the west side of the ridge.

Around 3:25 p.m., Cleve Hales was taking his 1957 Porsche Speedster replica to a mechanic in order to have a “clicking sound” looked at, he told St. George News while standing next to the charred remains of the car.

After making the northwest turn around Foremaster Ridge toward the Foremaster Drive-Riverside Drive intersection, Hales said something odd was happening with the car’s engine and he pulled over to have a look at it.

Hales went to open the hood over the engine in the rear of the car “and fire came out,” he said.

Hales was not injured.

The red circle marks the general location of the vehicle fire on Riverside Drive that occurred in St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2018 | Image courtesy of Google Maps, St. George News

The fire completely consumed the car. Smoke could be seen from Interstate 15.

The St. George Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire, but the car was a total loss by then.

While firefighters dealt with the burning car, St. George Police officers shut down access to Riverside Drive between River Road and Foremaster Drive. Traffic in the area began to backup and become congested as many motorists moved toward and over Foremaster Ridge via Foremaster Drive.

The nearby Mall Drive-Riverside Drive intersection also became congested, as were various spots on River Road between Mall Drive and Riverside Drive until about 4:20 p.m. when the impacted segment of River Road was reopened.

 

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Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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9 Comments

  • LunchboxHero October 25, 2018 at 10:15 am

    I saw the smoke up on the hill and wondered what was going on.

    • KR567 October 25, 2018 at 6:11 pm

      I got a kick out of the picture because of the. for sale. sign in the background. LOL !

      • LunchboxHero October 26, 2018 at 7:47 am

        Ha, good catch 🙂

  • Mike P October 25, 2018 at 10:47 am

    That’s just a major bummer.

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