The small community of Green River, Utah, is mourning the loss of its mayor, Ren Hatt, who was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on U.S. Route 6. The 40-year-old mayor died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at around 9:40 p.m. local time on Friday, December 5, 2025.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling westbound on the highway approximately 8 miles west of Green River when it drifted into the eastbound lanes. The semi struck the 2020 Hyundai Palisade driven by Hatt.
The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured in the crash. Impairment is not suspected, and the investigation is ongoing.
The city announced Hatt’s death on social media Saturday, expressing the profound grief felt throughout the community. “Mayor Hatt was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the people of Green River and worked tirelessly on their behalf,” city officials said. “This is a devastating loss for our community.”
Hatt had recently won reelection to serve a second term as mayor, receiving 65% of the vote. His fiancée, Maria Sykes, also shared news of his death on social media, expressing the devastating impact of losing “the love of my life, my fiancé and best friend.”
A candlelight vigil was held during the town’s annual Light the Night festival. The gathering transformed from its usual holiday tradition into a memorial honoring the fallen mayor.
Bo Harrison is now serving as acting mayor, according to city officials. Edward Castro Bennett serves as City Manager for Green River.
Hatt’s commitment to public service ran in the family. His grandfather, Rey Lloyd Hatt, served 18 years as mayor of Green River, establishing a legacy of leadership that the younger Hatt continued.
Before entering politics, Hatt built a diverse professional background. He graduated from Case Western Reserve Law School in 2014 and worked for the Tennessee Medicaid office in Nashville. Eventually, he returned to his hometown to help run the family business, Hatt Ranch.
When he ran for mayor in 2021, Hatt was already well-known in the community as a teacher at Green River High School, where he taught language arts, speech, debate, and journalism. His connection to students extended beyond the classroom, as he had served as an all-state center fielder during his own high school years and was elected student body president.
Funeral services were scheduled for December 13 at 11 a.m., providing the community an opportunity to gather and pay their final respects to a leader who had made such a significant impact on the town.
The tragedy has left a void in Green River, a small southeastern Utah town known for its tight-knit community and agricultural heritage. Hatt’s dual roles as mayor and teacher meant his influence touched multiple generations of residents, from his students in the classroom to the citizens he served in City Hall.
The loss is particularly poignant given Hatt’s recent electoral victory, which demonstrated strong community support for his leadership. Residents had clearly embraced his vision for Green River’s future.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the community is left to process the sudden loss of a leader who embodied the values of dedication, service, and compassion. The circumstances surrounding why the semi-truck drifted into oncoming traffic remain under investigation by the Utah Highway Patrol.
For Green River, the impact of Hatt’s death extends far beyond the loss of a mayor. It represents the loss of a teacher, a mentor, a neighbor, and a dedicated public servant who had deep roots in the community and a bright future ahead of him.
