Ren Hatt, the 40-year-old mayor of Green River, Utah, was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, leaving the small community of approximately 900 residents devastated by the loss of their recently reelected leader.
The fatal crash occurred on U.S. Highway 6 at approximately 9:40 p.m. local time, about eight miles west of Green River. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck traveling westbound drifted into the eastbound lanes for unknown reasons and struck the front passenger side of Hatt’s 2020 Hyundai Palisade head-on. The impact killed Hatt instantly, while the driver of the semi-truck was uninjured. Investigators have indicated that impairment is not suspected, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The city announced the news on Saturday, Dec. 6, with a heartfelt message on social media expressing the community’s grief. Hatt had just won reelection with 65 percent of the vote and was expected to serve a second term as mayor when the collision claimed his life. His leadership in the rural southeast Utah town had earned him widespread respect and affection among residents who knew him not only as their mayor but also as a teacher, mentor and friend.
City Manager Edward Castro Bennett reflected on the profound impact of the loss. “Green River is a small rural community, and moments like this bring our closeness into clear view,” Bennett said in a statement. “Many of us are thinking of Mayor Hatt’s family, his fiancée Maria, his former students, and of the people who were shaped by his kindness and his steady presence.”
Hatt’s fiancée, Maria Sykes, also shared the devastating news on Facebook, describing him as the love of her life, her fiancé, and best friend. She asked for prayers for their families and for the many people who loved Hatt during his 40 years of life. The couple had been engaged and were planning their future together when the collision occurred.
First elected mayor in 2021, Hatt followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Rey Lloyd Hatt, who served 18 years as Green River’s mayor. Beyond his political role, Hatt taught at Green River High School, where he made a lasting impression on students and colleagues alike. His commitment to education and public service demonstrated his dedication to improving the lives of those around him.
Hatt’s educational background included graduating from Case Western Reserve Law School in 2014. After working as a policy specialist for Tennessee’s Medicaid office in Nashville, he returned to his hometown to help manage his family’s business, Hatt Ranch. His deep roots in Green River and commitment to its future shaped his approach to leadership.
The community came together on Monday, Dec. 8 for a candlelight vigil at O.K. Anderson Park. The city’s annual Light the Night festival transitioned from its usual holiday celebration to a memorial event in Hatt’s honor. The gathering along Broadway and the walk to the park provided quiet, sincere moments that showed how deeply his loss affected the town.
In the wake of his death, Councilmember Bo Harrison is now serving as acting mayor. Harrison acknowledged the magnitude of Hatt’s contributions to the city and emphasized the importance of bringing the community together during this difficult time. The transition of leadership comes at a challenging moment for Green River as residents process their grief while ensuring continuity in local government.
The city’s statement emphasized that Hatt loved the community deeply and served it with honesty, kindness, and unwavering commitment.
Head-on collisions between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks often result in fatal outcomes due to the significant size and weight difference between the vehicles. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, compared to the approximately 4,000 pounds of a typical passenger vehicle. When a truck drifts into oncoming traffic, as occurred in this incident, drivers in smaller vehicles have limited options to avoid impact.
Green River High School invited the entire community to attend a basketball game on Saturday at 3 p.m., with no admission cost, asking attendees to wear beanies in honor of Hatt. The school and broader community continue to mourn the loss of a man who touched countless lives through his roles as educator, public servant, and community member. His absence will be felt throughout the small town for years to come as residents remember his dedication, warmth, and commitment to making Green River a better place for all its residents.