Driver crashes into Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Cedar City

Written by Jeff Richards
December 2, 2021
Damage to Tropical Smoothie Cafe after a pickup truck crashed through its storefront, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 1, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — A man who police said mistakenly accelerated his pickup truck while attempting to park, drove into a business building in Cedar City Wednesday evening.

Drive-thru window sign at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 2, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The incident, which occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m. at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe located at 1190 Sage Drive, involved a late 1990s model Dodge Ram driven by an adult male.

Cedar City Police Sgt. Clint Pollock said the driver was attempting to park the truck when the incident occurred.

“He hit the curb, thought that he put it in reverse but was in drive,” Pollock said, adding that the man then accelerated, and the truck went through the front of the building. 

Neither the driver nor any of the employees inside the store was injured, Pollock said.

More than an hour after the incident, employees were seen cleaning up the broken glass and other debris from inside the store, which has been closed indefinitely. It’s not known when or if the location will be reopened; in the meantime, Tropical Smoothie Cafe customers can visit the franchise’s other Cedar City location at 233 N. Airport Road.

“No citations were issued, due to it being on private property and no injuries,” Pollock added.

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

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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