A dramatic incident unfolded at a car dealership in Sandy, Utah, on Monday when a disgruntled customer allegedly drove a recently purchased vehicle directly into the showroom. The Sandy Utah Car Dealership Crash at Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne has resulted in significant damage and felony charges for the individual involved.
Michael Murray, 35, had purchased what appeared to be a Subaru Outback from Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne earlier that day. However, hours after the purchase, Murray reportedly returned to the dealership claiming to have discovered mechanical problems with the vehicle. He believed he had been sold a “lemon” and sought to return the car for a refund.
Dealership management at Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne, however, refused to accept the vehicle back, citing the “as is” condition of the sale. This disagreement escalated quickly, with Murray allegedly threatening to drive the car through the front of the dealership if his demands were not met.
Tyler Slade, a platform manager at the dealership, recounted the tense moments leading up to the sandy Utah car dealership crash. “We’re like, ‘Woah, we don’t need to do that.’ Sit down, we can figure this out, we can find a solution,” Slade stated, emphasizing the dealership’s attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Dealership Offered Refund or Different Car Before Crash
According to Slade, Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne had actually offered Murray a full refund or the option to choose a different vehicle prior to the crash. He further clarified that Murray was explicitly informed before the purchase that the Subaru Outback was a non-retail vehicle and would require additional inspection and potential repairs.
“We were very clear about the fact that this car is not retail,” Slade explained. “It’s gonna need more inspecting and some work.” He added that the dealership believed they were assisting Murray, who had a limited budget and needed a car, by offering him this particular vehicle at a lower price point. “In this situation, the customer needed the car, it fit his limited budget. And in our mind we’re doing him a favor.”
Despite these attempts at resolution, the situation culminated in the sandy Utah car dealership crash. The arrest report detailed that approximately seven salesmen were near the entrance when Murray drove the Subaru Outback through the storefront. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the dealership sustained an estimated $10,000 in damages as a result of the incident.
Slade described the chaotic scene: “I was actually just outside the building, but the noise, you can imagine, was a big bang and a lot of scrambling employees and there was a lot of shuffling going on the last minute before the customer rammed through the front door.”
Felony Charges Filed After Sandy Utah Car Dealership Crash
Following the incident, Michael Murray was arrested and booked into jail. He now faces serious charges including felony criminal mischief and reckless endangerment stemming from the sandy Utah car dealership crash.
Murray reportedly spoke with Inside Edition on Tuesday regarding the incident, the video of which has been circulating online. The sandy Utah car dealership crash serves as a stark reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate and the importance of clear communication and customer service in the car sales industry.
