ST. GEORGE — Police said a domestic dispute led to the death of a 25-year-old man Sunday after he fell from a moving pickup truck.
Investigators said Jose Paul Cruz had been in an argument with his longtime girlfriend. As she tried to leave in a pickup truck, Sgt. Craig Harding said Cruz jumped into the bed of the truck.
"As she's going up the road, he climbs from the back to the side and tries to get in the door," said Sgt. Craig Harding. About three blocks later, police said she stopped the truck on Mall Drive.
"She tells him to get off, he says no. She punches it, he loses his grip and falls off backwards and hits his head on the pavement," Harding said.
The woman drove home to call police about the fight. Meanwhile, people who witnessed Cruz fall and hit his head called police about a hit-and-run accident. Cruz was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The driver was booked into jail on investigation of leaving the scene of an accident. The Washington County Attorney's Office is expected to screen the case for possible charges, Harding said.