ST. GEORGE, UT – A fatal single-vehicle crash on State Route 7 near the Warner Valley overpass left one person dead Thursday afternoon, temporarily shutting down traffic in both directions as emergency crews responded.
The crash was reported just after noon when a passerby called 911, alerting authorities that a vehicle was on fire with someone inside, according to Sgt. Lucas Alfred of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Pickup Crashes Into Overpass Support, Catches Fire
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, located on Southern Parkway just north of the St. George Regional Airport exit, to find a pickup truck engulfed in flames after colliding with a bridge support pillar under the overpass.
The St. George Fire Department was dispatched to extinguish the fire, which had consumed the engine and front passenger area of the vehicle, Battalion Chief Tyler Talbot reported. Crews from Station 10 responded swiftly, and the fire was brought under control soon after their arrival.
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle was traveling westbound when it crashed and ignited, with the driver—who was the sole occupant—pronounced dead at the scene.
Traffic Disruptions and Investigation Ongoing
Due to the severity of the crash, SR-7 was completely shut down between the airport exit and Warner Valley exit, causing significant traffic delays as emergency teams worked to clear the wreckage.
Officials have not yet released the identity of the deceased driver, as family notifications are still in progress. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and further details have not been disclosed at this time.