ST. GEORGE, Utah — A weekend that began with truck festivities quickly descended into chaos across Washington County, as unauthorized gatherings caused significant disruptions and led to multiple arrests. The events, which occurred before and after the Southwest Truckfest, resulted in thousands of dollars in damages, dangerous driving behavior, and major traffic issues.
On the evening of Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12, informal meetups spilled into commercial parking lots, drawing large crowds and reckless drivers. According to Lt. Kory Klotz of Washington City Police, one such meetup involved between 150 and 200 trucks gathering in the Best Buy parking lot near Green Springs Drive. Around 20 to 30 of those vehicles engaged in dangerous behavior, performing donuts and burnouts for an estimated 40 minutes before law enforcement arrived.
The resulting damage to the parking lot was significant, with the asphalt and a speed bump suffering an estimated $18,000 in repairs. Between four and five individuals were arrested, and the charges are expected to be felonies due to the extent of the damage caused by the reckless driving.
“The event was sparked by a small group of individuals engaging in reckless behavior,” said Lt. Klotz. “But with a crowd of that size, things can escalate quickly. The situation becomes dangerous for both the public and law enforcement.” Klotz also mentioned that there was a collision between a truck and another vehicle, though no injuries were reported.
The following day, St. George law enforcement responded to another large gathering, this time at the Smith’s parking lot in SunRiver. According to Tiffany Mitchell, Public Information Officer for St. George Police, about 100 trucks participated in the event, many believed to have come from out of state. The scene, Mitchell described, was chaotic, with vehicles performing dangerous stunts and blocking fuel pumps, preventing other drivers from leaving.
“People were scared, and it could have been much worse. It was dangerous and incredibly irresponsible,” Mitchell said. Officers were able to issue citations and impound several vehicles for reckless driving and violations related to registration and insurance. Though the exact number of arrests was not disclosed, Mitchell confirmed that “a handful” of individuals were taken into custody.
The disruption caused by these gatherings was significant enough that one sergeant expressed genuine fear for the safety of both officers and the public. “It tells you how serious the situation was,” Mitchell added.
The total cost of the damages from the SunRiver event is still being assessed. However, Mitchell assured the public that there is no ongoing threat from the gatherings, and law enforcement is hopeful such incidents will not occur again.
While the situation ended without any reported injuries, authorities are taking steps to prevent similar events in the future. As for the individuals responsible, they now face serious legal consequences for their reckless actions.