LEHI, Utah, March 22, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A driver was arrested for alleged crimes including kidnapping and driving under the influence after his passenger reportedly grabbed the steering wheel on Interstate 15 in Lehi, and crashed the vehicle into the side of a Utah Highway Patrol cruiser at the side of the road.
According to UHP Lt. Cameron Roden, a trooper had pulled up on a stopped pickup truck near the Thanksgiving Point exit late Friday and was making a DUI arrest, with two other troopers who had arrived to assist.
“While all three troopers were on the traffic side performing a vehicle inventory, a Honda minivan swerved abruptly and collided with one of the patrol cars,” Roden told Gephardt Daily.
“Nobody involved was injured. The driver of the minivan was arrested for DUI. Lehi Police officers took over the investigation for the crash,” Roden said, and “determined that the passenger may have had involvement in grabbing the steering wheel, causing the driver to lose control.”
Arrest documents for the men identify the driver as Joshua Jacob Bavaro, 40, of American Fork, and the passenger as Yosef Zewdie Amha, 33, from Midvale.
Photo: UDOT traffic camera
According to the documents both had been drinking at the same bar prior to the crash.
“The passenger was interviewed who explained that Joshua asked him to go in his vehicle from the bar. The victim stated that he does not know Joshua and could not recall his name. Joshua offered to take the victim home, however, when prompted did not take the turn leading to the victim’s home and got onto the freeway after being confronted by the victim.
“Additionally, Joshua said things to the effects of this is what happens when, and that the victim wanted to be a tough guy. The victim explained that he did not know Joshua, and at that point they were on the freeway.”
Amha told investigators that when he realized Bavaro was not going to stop and let him out, he “saw police lights and felt the best way to get their attention was to hit the jersey barrier. The victim stated he jerked the wheel towards the lights in an attempt to get the police to notice them as he felt it would be the only thing to prevent something happening to him at the hands of Joshua.”
Bavaro said Amha owes him money, and that he knows Amha’s girlfriend. Amha told investigators he doesn’t owe Bavaro money and has no girlfriend that Bavaro could know.
The investigation is ongoing, Roden said.
Arrest documents say Bavaro was arrested for investigation of alleged:
- Kidnapping, a second-degree felony
- Driving under the influence, a class B misdemeanor
- Refusing a chemical test, a class B misdemeanor
Amha was arrested for investigation of alleged:
- Criminal mischief, recklessly endanger human life, a class A misdemeanor
- Reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor
Both men were released from the Utah County jail on bail.
Photo: UDOT traffic camera
