Centerville man taken into custody for reported reckless driving incident

CENTERVILLE, Utah — A 46-year-old man was arrested Tuesday evening after an alleged reckless driving incident that concluded with a small brush fire, police say.

Police say the incident occurred in the area of 309 East 1825 North at 4:42 p.m. When police arrived on scene, they discovered a silver Acura roughly 20 feet off the roadway. It was up on the mountainside with a small fire burning around it. Police and neighbors were able to get the fire out before it moved up the mountain.

Police say the Acura, driven by 46-year-old Benjamin Young Wight, of Centerville, had been driving eastbound on 1825 North when it swerved to the left. Law enforcement personnel also say he crossed into the westbound lanes of traffic and up onto the sidewalk. 

Reckless driving incident

Police say the driver nearly hit a pair of homeowners. However, he plowed through the groceries they were unloading from their car. The Acura drove also through a mailbox and sideswiped a parked truck. 

The Acura then swerved back to the right, crossing the roadway. It struck an electrical box before coming to a rest on the mountainside. 

Police say that Wight attempted to flee the scene. However, the Acura was stuck. Police say the hot engine from the Acura was the cause of the grass fire.

When questioned by police, Wight attempted that he allegedly stole compressed air from Walmart and had inhaled it just prior to the crash. 

Wight was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, reckless driving, and attempting to leave the scene of a crash. 

The homeowners told police they believe the driver intentionally swerved at them. However, an investigation into that part of the incident is ongoing.

Police say Tuesday’s incident happened in front of the property where a house was intentionally set on fire with the intent to kill the homeowners on July 21. 

Police say the two incidents are completely unrelated. 

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