The small town of Green River, Utah, is mourning the loss of Mayor Ren Hatt, who was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on U.S. Route 6 on Friday, December 5. The crash occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. local time, about eight miles west of the town.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck traveling westbound on the highway drifted into the eastbound lanes for an unknown reason. The semi struck Hatt’s 2020 Hyundai Palisade, which was traveling eastbound. The semi then veered back to the westbound lanes, while Hatt’s vehicle was forced to the right and came to rest on the right side of the eastbound lanes.
The 40-year-old mayor died at the scene. The driver of the semi was not injured. Highway patrol officials stated that impairment is not suspected, though the investigation remains ongoing.
In a Facebook post on Dec. 7, city officials expressed the community’s grief. “Mayor Hatt loved this community deeply, and he served it with honesty, kindness, and unwavering commitment,” the statement read. “We are grieving alongside his family, friends, and all who knew him.”
Hatt had recently been reelected to serve a second mayoral term, receiving over 65 percent of the vote in an election that took place approximately four weeks before the crash. In the town of about 800 to 900 people, his leadership touched virtually every resident. City officials noted that he was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the people of Green River and worked tirelessly on their behalf.
Beyond his role as mayor, Hatt worked as a teacher at Green River High School, where he taught language arts, speech, debate, and journalism. His influence extended to students across multiple disciplines, with many remembering him as a mentor and coach.
Maria Sykes, Hatt’s fiancée, shared news of his death on social media, saying that he was the love of her life.
Former student Kassidy Lehnhoff described her shock at the news. “He always had an answer to everything, and he just encouraged you to do your best no matter what,” she said. The loss has been particularly difficult for young people who knew him both as an educator and a community leader.
City Manager Edward Castro Bennett, who served as one of Hatt’s closest friends, reflected on the mayor’s impact, emphasizing that Green River is a small rural community.
On Dec. 9, the community held a candlelight vigil to honor Hatt during the town’s annual Light the Night Parade. The gathering at O.K. Anderson Park provided residents with an opportunity to remember their mayor and support one another through the loss. City officials thanked Addison Gee, a local resident who organized the event at Hatt’s request before his death.
Hatt’s connection to Green River ran deep. His grandfather, Rey Lloyd Hatt, had served as the town’s mayor for 18 years, establishing a legacy of public service that the younger Hatt continued. After earning his law degree from Case Western Reserve in 2014, Hatt first worked as a policy specialist, then later moved back to his hometown to help manage his family’s business, Hatt Ranch, which offers pheasant hunting excursions.
The mayor’s professional path also included work at a local nonprofit before he joined the high school faculty. He balanced his teaching responsibilities with the demands of leading the town, often writing grants and seeking funding opportunities to support Green River’s development.
Following Hatt’s death, Councilmember Bo Harrison is serving as acting mayor. The transition comes at a difficult time for the small community, where nearly everyone knew Hatt personally through his various roles as mayor, teacher, or neighbor.
Funeral services were held Dec. 13, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 95 North and Clark Street. Hatt was laid to rest at Elgin Cemetery following the services. A luncheon was held at the Green River Ward Cultural Hall.
City officials encouraged residents who wish to honor the mayor to attend and support the family during this difficult time. For a town where public service and community connection define daily life, the loss represents not just the death of an elected official, but the absence of a friend, teacher, and mentor whose influence shaped countless lives.
