EMERY COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 2, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Investigators were still on the scene late Thursday night after two suspects were killed on I-70 while trying to outrun law enforcement officers.
The suspects apparently were able to maintain their distance eastbound on the interstate after events began about 6 p.m.
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper first spotted the suspect vehicle moving at a right rate of speed, then an Emery County Sheriff’s Deputy gave chase, UHP Lt. Cameron Roden said, but neither were able to get close enough to effect a traffic stop.
“I’m told they were well over 100 mph,” Roden said of the suspects’ speed.
The driver encountered traffic at one point during the less than 20 mile chase, he said, and began traveling on the highway median to pass other motorists.
But the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled in the area of mile marker 160 on I-70 in Emery County, ejecting both occupants, Roden said. They were pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
Both eastbound lanes were closed for at least three hours as investigation and clean-up continued, backing up traffic for four miles at one point.
Roden said it was yet to be determined why the suspects refused to pull over and that investigators would likely remain on scene past midnight.
“There’s quite a lot of work to be done.”
