Police: Man hospitalized after jumping out of vehicle on SR-59 near Hurricane

Stock image | Photo by Matt Giush/iStock/Gettty Images Plus, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — After reportedly jumping out of a moving vehicle on state Route 59 between Hurricane and Apple Valley on Thursday night, a male passenger was transported to the hospital with serious head injuries.

Map shows location where officers say a passenger jumped out of a vehicle near Jem Trailhead, Utah, May 26, 2022 | Graphic by Janis Abolins/iStock/Getty Images Plus, photo courtesy of Google Maps, St. George News | Click to enlarge

The incident happened around 9 p.m. at mile marker 17 on SR-59 near the Jem trailhead and involved a gold Hyundai Entourage minivan that was traveling westbound toward Hurricane. The male passenger, 33, suffered what was described as critical head injuries and was transported to St. George Regional Hospital.

“We had a passenger in a vehicle that was intoxicated that for whatever reason jumped out of a vehicle … transported with serious injuries,” Lt. Shawn Judd with the Utah Highway Patrol said.

UHP Trooper Grant Hintze, who was at the scene, told St. George News the man suffered from a gruesome head injury.

He had scrapes all over his body,” Hintze added. “I can’t tell if he just hit the road or hit the concrete barrier.”

Witnesses on the scene initially reported the incident as a pedestrian hit-and-run, officers said, but further investigation proved otherwise.

Upon interviewing the vehicle’s driver, Hintze said he was told the man’s mother had died and he also had lost his job in the last few weeks.

“It’s uncertain if it was poor judgment or an attempt to hurt himself,” the trooper said of the passenger’s exit from the vehicle.

Hintze said the vehicle was traveling at 40 to 50 mph, and the driver was trying to hold the man inside the vehicle to keep him from jumping out after he threatened to do so.

“He was saying to pull over – there was nowhere to pull over,” Hintze said. “It was right at the twist so it’s a really narrow spot. One side are the cliffs and the other a concrete barrier and a drop-off.”

Intermountain Life Flight also was called out, though it was determined the narrow location offered few landing opportunities, and the EMS workers felt they could get the injured man to the hospital quicker, Hintze said. 

Hurricane Valley Fire District EMS transported the man to the hospital. He was reported in stable condition as of Friday morning.

Besides UHP, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office also aided at the scene. 

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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