Green River Mayor Ren Hatt, 40, Killed in Head-On Crash With Semi-Truck; Community Mourns

Ren Hatt, the 40-year-old mayor of Green River, Utah, was killed late on Friday, Dec. 5, when his vehicle was struck head-on by a semi-truck on U.S. Route 6, the city confirmed in a social media post.

Crash Details

According to a statement from the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), the collision occurred at about 9:40 p.m. local time. A 2021 Freightliner semi-truck traveling westbound "for an unknown reason" drifted into the eastbound lanes and struck the front passenger side of a 2020 Hyundai Palisade driven by Hatt. The Freightliner then returned to the westbound lanes, and the Hyundai came to rest on the right side of the eastbound lanes.

The driver of the Hyundai, later identified by city officials as Mayor Ren Hatt, was killed in the crash. The driver of the Freightliner was not injured. UHP said the investigation is ongoing and that "impairment is not suspected." No additional cause has been released while investigators continue their work.

Community Reaction and Tributes

The City of Green River posted that "Our community is heartbroken today," describing Hatt as someone who "loved this community deeply" and "served it with honesty, kindness and unwavering commitment." The city asked residents to keep Hatt's family in their thoughts as they grieve and said it will share more information when appropriate.

"For now, we ask everyone to hold his family in their thoughts during this difficult time." — City of Green River

Hatt's fiancée, Maria Sykes, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing: "Friends, I have to share terrible news. The love of my life, my fiancé and best friend, Ren Hatt, was killed in a car crash last night. At this time I ask for prayers for our families, for me, and for the many, many people who loved him in his far too few 40 years on this earth."

Background

Hatt had recently won reelection to a second term as mayor. A lifelong resident of rural Green River, he was an all-state center fielder in high school and served as his school's student body president. He earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2014 and worked as a policy specialist for Tennessee's Medicaid office in Nashville before returning home.

Back in Green River, Hatt helped run his family's Hatt Ranch, which offers pheasant hunting experiences, worked for a local nonprofit and taught various subjects at Green River High School. He continued teaching while serving as mayor. In 2024 he participated on a panel at Harvard University's Bloomberg Center for Cities, discussing how small towns can adapt to declining federal funding through grants, nonprofit partnerships and public-private collaboration.

Next Steps

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led the semi-truck to cross into oncoming traffic. The city has not announced funeral arrangements and asked the public to respect the family's privacy while they grieve.