ST. GEORGE — A Utah Highway Patrol Trooper tracked down a motorist who reportedly fled the scene of an injury crash on state Route 9 in Washington City — thanks to a quick-thinking witness who helped identify the suspect.
The arrest stems from a two-vehicle crash reported on state Route 9 near the Coral Canyon Boulevard exit Wednesday afternoon in Washington City that was handled by UHP, according to charging documents filed with the court.
The driver of a black Ford pickup truck reportedly caused the crash and fled the scene but not before a witness obtained a potential license plate number and a description of the truck that had dark window tint and a personalized plate.
In the meantime, the vehicle the pickup struck had several occupants, including children, who sustained possible back and neck injuries, the report states.
The trooper also noted the witness who provided the plate number was not sure of the last letters but was certain it began with the letters “PA.” But when they ran a check, it came back as unassigned to any vehicles in Utah.
The following day, a trooper spotted a vehicle matching the description of the pickup, which was registered to Dennis Taylor, 65, of Washington City.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the trooper responded to the residence but did not receive an answer at the door. As he was pulling away, he noticed a dark blue truck that “appeared black at first glance,” the trooper wrote, with dark tinting and a license plate that was two characters off.
“I also noticed front-end damage to the pickup consistent with the accident from yesterday,” the trooper wrote.
The truck was stopped, and when the trooper asked why the driver why he left the scene of the crash, the driver “nervously fumbled over his words but stated he was drunk” and then denied any recollection of being involved in a crash.
The suspect’s vehicle was impounded and during an inventory, officers found an open container of alcohol.
The suspect was arrested and booked into jail facing one count each of failing to remain at the scene of an accident with injury and an open container charge, each a misdemeanor.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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