Stolen vehicle pursuit leads to rollover crash and one death on US 40

The scene of the crash early on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Updated: The Summit County Sheriff’s Office released a press release about the incident on Wednesday morning:

“On September 22, 2021 at 9:04am, Summit County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Communications Center received a report of a black passenger vehicle stolen from a parking lot in Hideout, Utah in Wasatch County. The stolen vehicle call was transferred to Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office.

“At 10:03am the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a Midway resident who reported individual(s) were attempting to break into a vehicle. The caller said the person(s) got into a black passenger car and left the area. The vehicle matched the description of the reported stolen vehicle earlier in the morning. Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office put out an attempt to locate (ATL) on the black passenger car.

“At approximately 10:20am a Wasatch County Deputy located the black passenger car on SR 113 and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop – the deputy pursued the vehicle through Midway – on two separate occasions the pursuit was terminated because deputies lost visual of the vehicle.  Deputies and officers resumed the pursuit on River Road to U.S. 40 where speeds were in excess of 95mph.

“On U.S.40 in Summit County a Utah Highway Patrol Trooper deployed a tire deflating device to attempt to slow the fleeing vehicle. Several miles later, a Summit County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to deploy a tire deflating device. The suspect vehicle swerved on the roadway, lost control and crashed near mile marker two on US 40.

“There were two occupants inside the vehicle. The passenger, an adult female, died at the scene of the crash. The driver, an adult male, was transported via medical helicopter to a Salt Lake area hospital.

“A multi-agency critical incident investigation is underway. The Utah Attorney General’s Office, West Valley Police Department and Park City Police Department are assisting with the investigation. Because this is an ongoing investigation, additional details will be released as we are able to give them.

“No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident.”

—

On Wednesday morning, a car traveling at a high pace of speed in a police pursuit northbound on US 40 near the Silver Summit exit rolled over several times, ejecting both the driver and single passenger.

One of the passengers was killed, while the other was flown in critical condition to a Salt Lake Valley hospital.

Lt. Andrew Wright of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office told Townlift that the vehicle was in police pursuit coming out of Wasatch County.

“We treated both patients pretty aggressively and then one was transferred. The other one never responded to treatment,” said Park City Fire District Battalion Chief Darren Nelson.

“Anytime you get ejected, it’s never a really good thing as far as positive outcomes,” he said. “It was really unfortunate.”

A multi-agency/county critical incident is under investigation near milepost 2 on US40 in #summitcounty. People should expect major delays and avoid the area. Additional information will be released in the next hour.

— Sheriff Justin (@SummitCountySO) September 22, 2021