Witnesses share accounts of crash, fire and explosion that rocked Herriman strip mall
Jul 7, 2025, 6:35 AM | Updated: 2:32 pm
Witnesses described a blast so powerful they felt it, as some returned Sunday to survey the damage at a strip mall where a crash, fire and explosion took place Saturday night. (Andrew Adams, KSL TV)
(Andrew Adams, KSL TV)
HERRIMAN — Witnesses described a blast so powerful they felt it, as some returned Sunday to survey the damage at a strip mall where a crash, fire and explosion took place Saturday night.
“It was crazy, man,” Trayce Young said, who was in the drive-thru of the Taco Bell nearby at the time of the crash. “I was a little bit scared because I was thinking there was going to be an explosion. There’s a gas line. You could hear this big ‘whooshing’ sound.”
#Breaking #Herriman #UPDATE The gas company has gotten the main gas line shut off. The fire is out. pic.twitter.com/r0QA8mB4Jz
— SLCScanner (@SLCScanner) July 6, 2025
After the collision near 5200 West and 13400 South, Jimmy John’s worker Austin Spencer told KSL TV he also heard a disconcerting “hissing” sound.
“I’m like, ‘this is not right,’” Spencer said. “I told everyone to get out and call the cops and I turn around the corner and I see flames.”
Spencer then went next door to Domino’s to make sure everyone was aware of what sounded like a gas leak.
He said it appeared the workers there did not realize what the situation was.
“They were all there, just thinking the soda fell off and all exploded,” Spencer said. “I was like, ‘everyone, get out.’”
Sam Horn, another witness, described a “huge fire” as other people were working to pull the driver out of the SUV that hit the building.
“The car was like halfway on fire, and the building was up in flames, just burning,” Horn said.
He, Spencer and others were still nearby when the building exploded.
“I saw things fly and I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, I need to run,’ and I just ran,” Spencer said.
Young said he was stunned by the explosion.
“I could feel it in my chest,” Young told KSL TV. “I look up, and I see a big old mushroom cloud and the roof is probably 30, 40 feet above me.”
According to a statement from Herriman City Sunday, the “long-term status” of the strip mall was being evaluated.
Meanwhile, the Riverton Police Department was investigating the ordeal.
Spokesman Josh Lee said three people were transported to the hospital with injuries after the crash, but it appeared everyone made it out of the building before the blast occurred.
The cause and contributing factors of the crash were still getting a closer look, he said.
Spencer expressed relief that everyone escaped the building before the explosion.
“I still think it’s a fever dream,” Spencer said.
Horn was also in disbelief over what took place.
“It just doesn’t seem real,” Horn said. “I was at this Domino’s a couple of weeks ago, just getting some food, and now it’s completely gone. (It’s) just wild how something happens so fast.”
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