CEDAR CITY— A man who pleaded guilty to causing a car crash that seriously injured another driver was recently sentenced to one year in jail, to be followed by three years’ probation.
File photo of a damaged Nissan SUV at the scene of a hit-and-run collision on Lund Highway, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 15, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Department, St. George News / Cedar City News
Sage Bradley England, 24, was sentenced on Oct. 30 in Cedar City’s 5th District Court by Judge Matthew L. Bell.
As previously reported, England was arrested on Aug. 15 after the car he was driving struck another vehicle from behind on Lund Highway in Cedar City. The other driver, a woman in her late 30s, was hospitalized with serious injuries. Although England had fled the scene by the time police arrived, the officers were able to track him down using his vehicle’s license plate, which had fallen off in the collision.
On Sept. 18, England pleaded guilty to a single count of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony. As part of a plea agreement, another third-degree felony charge, failing to remain at the scene of an injury accident, was dismissed.
During the Oct. 30 sentencing hearing, prosecutor Chase Troutner told the court that the other driver’s injuries were debilitating.
“The victim in this case is likely to never be the same,” Troutner said. “She will undergo intensive medical treatment and physical therapy to attempt to regain some of what she has lost as a result of the defendant’s actions, but it’s frankly unlikely that she’ll ever be able to do that.”
Just before he imposed the sentence, Judge Bell addressed what he considered the most troubling aspects of the case.
“I’m concerned, Mr. England about this case,” Bell said, adding, “I already mentioned the fact that this was your fourth arrest for some alcohol-related incident in less than a year. This is a pattern, right?”
Continued Bell: “You’ve been put on probation in two previous cases. And now, your drinking has resulted in somebody being seriously injured.”
At one point, Bell asked if England thought what was happening was funny, whereupon England said no.
“Good, because it’s not,” Bell said. “You’ve got a lot of growing up to do.”
“You could have killed someone,” the judge added.
“I’m also concerned that not only did you cause serious injury to an innocent person, but then you fled the scene,” Bell added. “And then when officers found you, you initially denied any knowledge of anything that’s going on. That’s cowardly.”
File photo of 5th District Courthouse, Cedar City, Utah, April 15, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Given a chance to address the court, England apologized, saying, “I am very, very sorry … I definitely have had plenty of time to think about my decision and I’m pretty sorry about it.”
England also said he hopes the injured woman will continue to recover.
Bell then ordered England to serve 365 days in the Iron County Jail, with credit given for the time served since his Aug. 15 arrest. He is eligible for good time, if earned, the judge added.
Upon his release from jail, England will be placed on probation for another 36 months, to be supervised by Adult Probation and Parole. He was also ordered to refrain from possessing or consuming alcohol and to abide by all the other standard terms of probation, in addition to completing 100 hours of community service.
The court waived all fines other than the mandatory $53 court security fee. However, England was told he will be responsible for paying restitution to the victim, with the amount to be determined later, following the statutory period for claims to be filed.
After being informed of his legal right to appeal, England was taken back into the custody of Iron County Jail.
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