A man gets road rage and chases another vehicle through Vernal, crashing into it and leaving the scene.
- May 18
- 3 min read
| by Travis Uresk | May 18th, 2026 |
Vernal, Utah (5/16/26)—Cpl. Candelas was notified of a hit and run at approximately 1050 W Highway 40. There was also a report of a road rage incident in the same area.
The description of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run and the road rage incident matched. It was reported that a large white male in a red shirt was driving recklessly, nearly hitting multiple vehicles. Both complainants also mentioned that the male exited his White Toyota Rav4 with no License plate at a red light at the intersection of 1000 West Highway 40, approached a Tesla, and was banging on the window.
The next day, Cpl. Candelas located the driver of the Rav4, who identified himself as 52-year-old Brian Glenn Smith and presented a Utah driver's license.
The officer asked Brian about the incident that occurred in front of McDonald's. Brian stated, " It was a road rage incident," and informed Cpl. Candelas said that he had video footage of the incident on his dash cam. He gave the officer consent to collect the video from the dash camera.
The dash cam video shows Brian entering Vernal traveling eastbound with a Tesla in front of Brian at a great distance. The Tesla was traveling in the number 2 lane, signaled, and moved into the number 1 lane, which was the same lane Brian was in.
At this time, there was still a significant gap between the two vehicles. When the Tesla entered the number 1 lane, Brian yelled, " What the Fuck! Fucking bitch." The Tesla had created even more space between the two vehicles
at this point.
After passing Walmart, Brian sped up to 65 miles per hour, catching up to the Tesla. The light at the intersection of 1000 South and Highway 40 was red, and Brian cut off a Jeep to get right behind the Tesla. When the light turned green, Brian began to drive normally, and once the Tesla moved back over to the number 1 lane, a truck pulling a trailer was moving into the center turning lane, still partially in the number 2 lane.
Brian accelerates in the number 2 lane, nearly crashing into the back end of the trailer. A black SUV is then in the number 1 lane. Brian then accelerated and drove around the SUV, nearly hitting it. The Tesla, still ahead of Brian, got back into lane 1 as Brian was attempting to pass it. In the video, Brian says, " You are not going to control me dickhead." and gets into the number 2 lane, and the Tesla gets back into the number 2 lane as well. Brian then continues to accelerate, passing the Tesla on the shoulder of the road, which ended up impacting the Tesla's front passenger side with his rear driver side.
At the following intersection, 1000 West Highway 40, the light is red, and Brian gets into the number 1 lane, and the Tesla gets into the turning lane. Brian exits his vehicle and walks towards the Tesla. Brian also has a rear dash camera that recorded the incident in which he hit the Tesla's driver's door glass, then began walking away, stopped, turned around, and stomped his foot to intimidate the Tesla's driver.
Brian gets into his vehicle and drives straight home a few blocks away.
Brian was arrested for failure to comply with the duties of a vehicle accident, a class B misdemeanor, and reckless driving, with a road rage enhancement to a class A misdemeanor.
Traffic and Criminal Report
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