Police arrest alleged ‘plastered’ driver following Red Cliffs Drive crash; open container found in car

ST. GEORGE — Authorities suspect driving under the influence of alcohol played a part in a rear-end collision on Red Hills Drive Monday evening.

The aftermath of a rear-end collision on Red Cliffs Drive near 1950 East in St. George. The driver of the blue Hyundai involved in the crash was arrested on suspect DUI charges, St. George, Utah, Nov. 14, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Around 5 p.m., a yellow car being towed behind a pickup truck was westbound on Red Cliffs Drive in the area of 1950 East when it was rear-ended by a blue Hyundai. The impact left the back end of the yellow car smashed in and the bumper hanging on the ground.

As for the Hyundai, St. George Police Officer Tiffany Mitchell confirmed the driver attempted the flee the scene. The driver of the blue Hyundai was able to turn onto 1950 East and end up with a part of the vehicle’s front end on the curb before stopping. The driver then tried to flee on foot but was evidently too inebriated to get very far by the time police arrived, Mitchell said.

An officer on scene remarked the Hyundai’s driver was “plastered” and had an open container of alcohol in the car, which was confirmed by Mitchell.

After the driver was placed in the back of a St. George Police SUV and taken away, the remaining officer on scene began to remove some items from the car before it was towed. Those items ended up being the open can of seltzer and a box full of yet-to-be-consumed alcohol.

The cans were each opened and emptied into the gutter in what the officer called “a river of White Claw.”

No injuries were reported in connection to the crash, Mitchell said.

The Hyundai driver was arrested in connection with driving under the influence, having an open container in the car and attempting to flee the scene.

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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

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