Man Hospitalized After Stand-Off In Car Identified

LEWISTON, Utah, Dec. 16 (Gephardt Daily) — An Idaho man who remains hospitalized Wednesday night after crashing his vehicle, rupturing a gas line, starting a gun battle with first responders, then antagonizing police during an hour long stand-off inside his car has been identified.

The incident began at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday when a woman called safety officials to report a reckless driver on Interstate 91. The driver, identified as 30-year-old Cade M. Austin of Preston, Idaho, reportedly drove off the road and struck a gas line, causing it to break and begin spewing highly flammable gas. Police, fire and emergency medical crews were dispatched to the accident scene.

The man had to be extricated from his vehicle.

Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen said Smithfield City Fire Department EMT’s arrived at the scene and began to extricate Austin but he was reportedly not cooperative and then pointed a firearm at them.

Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Hunt, who was on scene, was carrying a firearm at the time of the incident. Hunt is a Utah State concealed weapon licensee, as well as a Reserve Police Officer for the North Park Police Department.

Logan City Detectives and State Crime lab technicians are still piecing together the sequence of events, but it is believed there was an exchange of gun fire, followed by all personnel having to take cover.

Austin remained in his car from 1:04 p.m. to 2:18 p.m. during a stand-off situation with continually arriving police personnel. Austin appeared to be wounded but continued to wave what appeared to be a gun at officers. The scene was immensely heightened by the gas line continuing to expelling natural gas into the air.

Cache County Sheriff’s Deputies, Logan City SWAT officers and skilled negotiation teams were called to assist. During the course of the stand-off, Austin fell unconscious. SWAT team members were able to approach and remove him from the car then rush him to a Logan area hospital before being flown by medical helicopter to Ogden.

The gas line was eventually capped.

Logan City Police, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Public Safety, were asked to investigate the incident.