ST. GEORGE, Utah-This past Sunday evening, monsoonal moisture entered into Washington County, shutting down Interstate 15 in St. George and closing streets throughout the city.
As the storms raged, Dixie State University football players watched events unfold from a balcony.
These student-athletes, redshirt freshman quarterback Kaleb Hatch of El Paso, Texas, freshman offensive lineman Motuga Tuileta of West Jordan, Utah, junior safety Kaejin Smith-Bejgrowicz of Las Vegas and freshman receiver Mason Paulo of West Jordan, Utah then spotted a woman getting swept under her car.
They were able to rescue her, sufficiently lifting her vehicle high enough for the escape to occur, per Dixie State associate athletics director Steve Johnson.
Trailblazers head coach Paul Peterson confirmed their heroism.
VP Beatty @DixieState addressing @DixieState_FB. Our boys lifted a flooded car where a student was trapped under water saving her life! Really proud of Kaleb Hatch ⬇️, Mo Tuileta, Kaejin Smith-Bejgrowicz and Mason Paulo. pic.twitter.com/YfAPYAet1o
— Coach Peterson (@CoachPPeterson) August 26, 2020
Incidentally, Dixie State football student-athletes were ready to serve the community Tuesday morning as well as the floods’ aftermath had ceased in the city.
Boys putting in some work. Clean up after the big flood at the convention center 🌧🦺⛑🧹 @DixieState_FB @DixieAthletics pic.twitter.com/lK6CLppfVT
— Coach Peterson (@CoachPPeterson) August 25, 2020
Incidentally, Wednesday evening, Dixie State athletics confirmed it will assist students on campus who have been displaced because of this past weekend’s flooding. More information is below.
Join us in helping 120 DSU students (including 20 student-athletes) displaced by last Sunday night's flooding. Most of them lost everything. Please text "DSUFLOOD" to 71-777 to donate $, or consider providing any of the much needed items listed. Thank you! #DixieBlazers #WeAreONE pic.twitter.com/21f6VRyOzk
— Dixie State Athletics (@DixieAthletics) August 26, 2020
