Man Arrested After Allegedly Crashing Stolen Truck Into St. George Home

ST. GEORGE, Utah — A local man was taken into custody early Saturday morning after police say he drove a stolen truck into a St. George home and then tried to run away from the scene.

According to the St. George Police Department, officers responded to reports of a vehicle crash near 1200 West and 540 North around 2:15 a.m. on October 25, 2025.

Police Response

When officers arrived, witnesses told them a box-style Isuzu truck had collided with the corner of a residence before the driver—later identified as 35-year-old Darwin Julius Lee—took off running toward a nearby elementary school.

Officers chased the suspect on foot and detained him moments later. Police say Lee appeared intoxicated, showing signs such as slurred speech, unsteady movement, and the smell of alcohol. He also had visible injuries, including cuts and scrapes.

Scene Details and Investigation

At the crash site, officers found the truck still in drive with an open beer can on the floorboard. Damage to the property included a broken sliding door and a partially collapsed wall.

A witness reported seeing Lee get out of the passenger side of the truck and stumble before fleeing. Investigators say the truck had been stolen from a parking lot in Washington City, where the owner had left it for repairs. The owner confirmed that Lee did not have permission to use the vehicle.

Charges Filed

Lee was booked into the Washington County Jail and faces several charges, including:

• Receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle (2nd-degree felony)
• DUI with prior convictions (3rd-degree felony)
• Property damage over $1,500 (3rd-degree felony)
• Driving on a suspended license and alcohol-restricted driving (Class B misdemeanors)
• Failing to remain at the scene, open container violation, and traffic infractions

Records indicate that Lee has two previous DUI convictions, from 2011 and 2023, which prohibited him from legally driving.

Due to his injuries, field sobriety tests were not performed at the scene, but officers later obtained a warrant for a blood draw.

Community Impact

The residents of the home were not injured, though neighbors reported being startled awake by the sound of the crash. One local described it as “a loud boom that shook the neighborhood.”

As the case proceeds, police are reminding drivers to plan ahead and never get behind the wheel while impaired — especially as St. George continues to grow and neighborhoods become more densely populated.

Note: The charges listed in this report are based on police and court records. Individuals named are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

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