WEST VALLEY CITY, September 14, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Police from multiple jurisdictions are investigating a multi-car collision at 4100 S. 4800 West Thursday.
Witnesses told Gephardt Daily the crash happened about 12:04 p.m. when the driver of a blue passenger car blew through a stop light and hit two vehicles before slamming into a tree.
Rob Monsen had just dropped off his daughter at a nearby daycare when the car sped passed him. He said a number of what appeared to be unmarked police vehicles appeared on scene after crash and then drove off.
Maria Peterson, public information officer for Utah Department of Corrections, confirmed to Gephardt Daily that officers from Adult Probation and Parole were in the area conducting search for an escaped fugitive immediately prior to the crash.
“AP&P staff approached the vehicle to speak to the person and verify his identity, when the person fled,” Peterson said. “AP&P agents turned on lights and sirens in an attempt to get the person to pull over. The person sped away and the agents then stopped pursuit to avoid engaging in a chase.”
The crash happened moments later.
According to Peterson, other APP agents remained at the site of original operation and ultimately arrested 29-year-old parolee Bryan Johnson. She said Johnson was wanted for walking away on Sept. 12 from the Northern Utah Community Corrections Center where he was being held on a parole violation for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
The man injured in the West Valley City crash has yet to be identified, although investigators say he was not the subject of the APP agents’ original search efforts.
His injuries were though to be non-life threatening.
