LOGAN, Utah, Aug. 8, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The Utah Highway Patrol has released dash cam video of an explosive crash that happened near Wellsville when a man fleeing police rammed his pickup into a semi.
On July 26, Utah Highway Patrol officers tried to make a traffic stop on a newer model black Chevrolet Silverado pickup after multiple 911 calls reporting its erratic driving.
The pickup initially was north bound from Sardine Canyon toward Logan City, but had changed directions several times. The UHP located the pickup near the Welcome-Mart in Wellsville on U.S. 89/91 and tried to make the traffic stop.
Seconds later, the black pickup truck veered left into the oncoming travel lanes at a high rate of speed, striking a semi loaded with sand head-on.
As a result of the violent impact, there was an explosion and immediate fire. The driver of the semi-truck, William Gray of Rigby, Idaho, got out off his vehicle on fire and was extinguished by a Highway Patrol Trooper. Medical crews transported Gray to Logan Regional Hospital where he was later air-lifted to University of Utah Hospital. Gray is a Reserve Police Officer for Rigby Police Department in Rigby, Idaho.
The driver of the pickup truck, 26-year-old Marcos Torres, of Brigham City, was pronounced dead at the scene. As to cause or motive, the traffic accident is still under investigation.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit Gray and his wife, April, to help make up for lost wages.
