Trucker arrested for allegedly driving off with Utah trooper on steps
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper was injured this morning in an encounter with a truck driver who they say did not comply with a road closure.
The incident began shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, in Salt Lake City when a trooper noticed slick spots on an I-215 ramp from an oil spill.
On the scene of an accident near SB I-215 and California Ave. Utah Highway Patrol says a Trooper was on a fuel spill closure, when a semi came through the closure and clipped the Trooper.
The semi driver left, but was eventually located and is now in custody. pic.twitter.com/ZWpZPquhKn— Lexie Johnson (@lexie_news) September 15, 2020
The trooper set up a roadblock. As he was outside of his vehicle, a semi truck driver reportedly refused to stop for the closure.
The trooper then climbed up on the steps of the truck to speak with the driver, but the Utah Highway Patrol says that the truck driver continued driving and the trooper was forced to leap from the steps.
The truck driver fled the scene but was eventually found and arrested. He could face charges of aggravated battery.
The trooper was hospitalized with leg and back pain.
“He is in trouble. We actually had two other Utah vehicles here and one stayed with the trooper and the other one followed the truck and radioed to get other troopers and finally got the truck stopped over on I 15 and 3300 South and that’s where it was taken into custody,” Utah Highway Patrol Corporal Andrew Battenfield told Fox 13.
The identity of the truck driver has not been released.
The incident remains under investigation.