ST. GEORGE — A 44-year-old driver suspected of DUI is facing multiple charges following a crash on Bloomington Hills Drive that flipped an SUV onto its roof and injured four occupants.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday, officers and emergency personnel were dispatched on a report of a rollover involving a red Toyota SUV and a blue Ford Explorer at the intersection of Fort Pierce Drive and Bloomington Hills Drive in St. George.

While en route, officers were advised of several injured occupants in the Toyota, while the driver of the Ford was suspected to be impaired, according to a police report filed in support of the arrest. 

Upon arrival, officers found the red Toyota overturned in the middle of the roadway, while the heavily damaged Ford partially blocked the roadway.  

Four injured occupants were found in the overturned Toyota. Of these, three were transported to St. George Regional Hospital by ambulance, while the fourth made arrangements to self-transport to the hospital for evaluation and treatment, according to the report. One occupant reportedly suffered a large laceration to the head that required stitches. 

The driver of the Ford, 44-year-old Scott Russell Hendrickson, was still sitting in his vehicle when officers arrived, the report states, adding Hendrickson never checked on any of the occupants in the upturned Toyota. 

Police say at the time of the crash, the Ford was southbound on Bloomington Hills Drive when it struck the Toyota, which was turning left onto Fort Pierce Drive. The impact caused the Toyota to roll until it came to rest upside down in the middle of the roadway.

Officers concluded that “Hendrickson had failed to yield to an oncoming vehicle making a left turn,” in an area where there was no curvature to the level and dry roadway.

Investigators say Hendrickson appeared “dazed and was slow to respond to questions.”

During a field sobriety test performed at the scene, Hendrickson reportedly failed several of the exercises, which led investigators to determine he was too impaired to safely operate a vehicle. 

When asked, Hendrickson reportedly denied any recent drug use or taking any prescription medication. He was later arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. 

Hendrickson was booked into jail at 8:30 p.m. on multiple charges, including one third-degree felony count of negligently operating a motor vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury. He also was charged with DUI and three counts of operating a motor vehicle resulting in injury, each a misdemeanor. 

He was held without bail following his arrest.

On Monday, the Washington County Attorney’s Office filed formal charges and Hendrickson made his initial appearance in 5th District Court. During the hearing, bail was set at $10,000 and the no-bail hold was removed. A status hearing has been scheduled to take place on July 26 in St. George.

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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